Panthers survive 66-65
BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
Tyler Stuhlsatz slid across center court to steal the basketball as Great Bend coach Kyle Kriegh soared into the air like a superhero to call timeout.
The Panther fans celebrated a stunning 66-65 basketball victory over previously unbeaten Emporia Friday. The Panthers outscored the Spartans 21-18 in the final fast-paced 41/2 minutes.
Freshman Ian Premer capped a 22-point second half with four clinching free throws. Premer converted a pair of 3-pointers and made his trickiest shot on a pull-up jumper for a 56-53 lead. Braylon Council converted a fast-break 3-point play and Stuhlsatz scored off transition for a 61-54 lead.
"I started attacking on offense second half. We got a spark and it continued," Premer said. "It was our determination that we wouldn't lose that game. We played 20 points better tonight against a solid basketball team. Tyler (Stuhlsatz) played great basketball that fourth quarter."
Emporia scored four baskets in the final minute, but Parker Leeds' potential game-tying 3-pointer missed.
The Panthers outscored Emporia 30-23 in a fast-paced fourth period. The Panthers surprised the talented Spartans with seven 3-pointers that keyed an attacking offense in a 49-point second half.
Council's superb ballhandling and Cayden Scheuerman's cross-court passing keyed excellent offensive teamwork.
"That was fun. We kept attacking the basket and got the basketball to the middle," Kriegh said. "We battled and competed. We won possessions and won the next play. That play by Tyler gave us confidence we would win that game. Tyler's a hard-hat guy who sets the tone."
The stoic Stuhlsatz cracked a smile after he played his typical hard-nosed defensive game while scoring a Great Bend career high 14 points. As usual, he drew an offensive foul.
"It was hard-fought win. I had a mindset that we'd beat this team," Stuhlsatz said. "I help my team on defense. I wanted to contribute on offense when I could tonight. I found some openings tonight."
Braylon Council added 13 points and hit a trio of clutch 3-pointers to rescue the Panthers. Council hit a game-changing 3-pointer for a 54-53 lead and scored a conventional 3-point play for a 59-54 lead.
"Braylon's ballhandling kept plays alive," Kreigh said.
Great Bend (3-3) offset 9 of 20 foul shooting with 25 of 51 field goals. Council made a trio of 3-pointers and Premer made a pair.
The athletic and tall Emporia Spartans (5-1) were sparked by River Peters with 20 points and inside force Cooper Rech added 17 points. The Spartans made 15 of 20 free throws, but converted 2-of-13 shots on 3-pointers.
Emporia 11 12 19 23 – 65
Great Bend 6 17 19 30 – 66
EMPORIA (5-1)–Peters 7-12 5-8 20, Rech 7-12 3-4 17, Stewart 4-6 1-1 10, Leeds 0-3 0-0 0, King 1-3 6-7 8, Jackson 2-4 0-0 4, Hess 3-8 0-0 6, Totals 24-48 15-20 65
GREAT BEND (3-3)–Premer 7-10 6-6 22, Stuhlsatz 6-10 0-1 14, Council 4-8 2-5 13, Scheuerman 4-10 1-4 9, Hall 2-4 0-2 4, Spray 1-5 0-1 2, Coombs1-4 0-1 2, Totals 25-51 9-20 66
3-pointers–E 2-13 (Stewart 1-2, Peters 1-2, King 0-1, Leeds 0-2, Rech 0-3, Hess 0-3); GB 7-23 (Council 3-5, Premer 2-4, Stuhlsatz 2-4, Spray 0-3, Coombs 0-3, Scheuerman 0-4)
