GODDARD — Great Bend played near-perfect basketball for better than a quarter for a shocking 21-16 lead against the No. 1 ranked Goddard Eisenhower Tigers.
Kody Crosby nailed a 3-pointer and Koy Brack added two free throws for a 21-16 lead behind eight of 12 shooting that quieted the Tigers’ crowd.
The Tigers (20-1) responded like a championship team with a perfect mix of fast-break offense and accurate shooting. Eisenhower scored 19 consecutive points to roar to a 35-21 lead en route to a dominating 71-36 Class 5A substate basketball victory.
Crosby led the Panthers (6-15) with 17 points while playing solidly defensively and on the boards. Logan Perry played his finest game of the season with 12 points off his patented left-handed moves. They combined for 12 of 13 Panther field goals.
After a fantastic start, the Panthers made five of 28 field goals, a 18 percent clip against a quick and physical Eisenhower defense.
“We played really good basketball that first quarter,” said Great Bend coach Tim Brooks. “The rest of the game, we didn’t make shots and didn’t shoot a good percentage. That proved to be our demise.”
University of Omaha signee 6-foot-8 Matt Pile dominated inside with 21 points and flashy point guard Dylan Vincent contributed 16 points and several nifty assists. Jeff Wake chipped in 11 points.
During the game-deciding run, Pile scored seven points and Dylan Vincent scored and dished an assist. Super-sub Jordan Vincent contributed back-to-back steals and scores and an assist to Pile for a 3-point play.
The Tigers showed why they’re a threat to capture the school’s first-ever Class 5A state basketball championship in a stunning 19-0 scoring run. Dylan Vincent triggered a running clock in the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer for a 59-28 lead.
“They have a very good basketball team with all the elements – a big man inside and a fine point guard,” Brooks said. “Their other players all stepped up and contributed.”
Great Bend had swept three of its past four games heading to the substate semifinal.
“We made strides,” Brooks said. “It’s a group that competed and played every day in practice and every game. I never had to push them because I knew they’d give it everything they had every day. They were a pleasure to coach. Hopefully, we’ll continue to progress as a basketball program.”
GB 16 6 6 8 – 36
GE 15 25 19 12 – 71
GREAT BEND—Kody Crosby 6-15 2-6 17; Ty Esfeld 0-4 0-0 0; Konner Ireland 0-3 2-2 2; Logan Perry 6-11 0-0 12; Koy Brack 0-3 2-2 2; Jacob Murray 1-5 0-0 2; Blake Penka 0-0 1-2 1; Totals 13-40 7-12 36.
EISENHOWER—Matt Pile 8-11 5-9 21; Jordan Vincent 3-4 1-2 7; Dylan Vincent 6-13 3-4 16; Brycen Bush 2-4 0-0 5; Shawn McCool 0-1 0-0 0; Tyler King 2-2 1-1 5; Jeff Wake 5-6 0-0 11; Jordan Greene 2-3 0-0 4; Joshua Paul 1-1 0-0 2; Totals 29-45 10-16 71.
3-point goals—GB 3-15 (Ireland 0-1, Crosby 3-7, Murray 0-3, Brack 0-1, Esfeld 0-3), GE 3-11 (D. Vincent 1-3, Bush 1-3, Wake 1-2, Greene 0-1, Pile 0-1, J. Vincent 0-1).
