BY BUDDY TABLER

Special to the Tribune

LARNED – The Pratt Greenbacks weren’t shy about putting up three-point shots Friday. It paid big dividends as they made 10 attempts from long range as they edged the Larned Indians 61-53. Pratt outscored the Indians 30-9 from long range.

Both teams opened the game attacking the rim and Larned gained a 16-15 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Pratt guards found the range from 3-point land as the Greenbacks outscored the Indians 15-7 to forge a 30-23 halftime advantage. It was a lead they would never relinquish.

“We did not do a good job defensively of getting to their 3-point shooter,” said Larned coach Jerrod Smith. “We were so focused on guarding and helping on their big guys that we were slow to get outside on defense.”

Larned’s Jack Stelter hustled for 18 points. Layton Crosby added 14 and Dillan Smith 9. Larned meets Kinsley Monday at the Keady Basketball Classic  Monday.

Pratt maintained a 4-to-8 point margin most of the third and fourth quarters as they consistently hit shots and made their free throws. Pratt made 7 of 10 free throws and shot 51% from the field on 21 of 41 with nearly half of the shot attempts from beyond the 3-point line.

Larned was getting a lot more shot attempts than Pratt but not converting as they were 24 of 59 for 40%. The real struggle for the Indians though was at the free throw line and it turned out to be the difference maker in the game. Larned two free throws in 13 attempts, several of the misses being the front end of one-and-one attempts. 

“Yes, we really struggled at the free throw line and it cost us the game,” Smith said. “I’m not sure why because we are better shooters. Maybe we got tired. We don’t have a lot of depth right now. Still, I was pleased with our effort and I know we are going to get better.”

Pratt’s 6-foot-4 Peyton Koehler and Aiden Crow led the Greenbacks with 12 points apiece while Matt Shanline added 11.

PRATT 61, LARNED 53

Pratt 15 15 16 15 – 61

Larned 16 7 15 15 – 53

PRATT (1-0)–Koehler 5 2-4 12, Crow 4 0-0 12, Shanline 4 3-4 11, Tatro 3 0-0 9, Johnson 3 0-0 8, Hoeme 2 2-2 6, Coss 1 0-0 3, Totals 22 7-10 61

LARNED (0-1)–Jack Stelter 8 2-2 18, Crosby 7 0-0 14, Smith 3 0-3 9, Haas 3 0-1 6, McNett 1 2-4 4, Tucker 1 0-3 2, Totals 24 2-13 53

3-pointers–P 10 (Craw 4, Tatro 3, Johnson 2, Coss 1), L 3 (Stelter 2, Smith 1)