HAYS – The Great Bend Panther boys played well enough to lead at halftime, but the writing was on the wall when they lost a 6-point lead by intermission.
Thomas More Prep outscored the Panthers 33-14 after halftime to roll to an easy 62-43 non-league basketball victory.
The Monarchs ignited a 13-1 scoring run with a pair of 3-pointers by David McFarland and another by Luke Ruder. Another 8-0 scoring run in the midst of a 1 for 16 shooting slump by the Panthers sealed the victory.
“The third quarter was huge,” said Great Bend coach Tim Brooks. “We didn’t get out on shooters and we got caught on some backscreens defensively. Our guys on the backside of our defense had a hard time blocking them off the boards.”
Great Bend (3-14) hung tough behind sparkplug Alex Schremmer with 17 points and solid ballhandling. Peyton Duvall added seven points and Brock Blessing drew two charges to lead the defense.
McFarland led the Monarchs with 17 points and Creighton Renz added 16 points and Michael Lager 11 points.
The Panthers converted 4 of 24 field goals after halftime after a 12 of 25 first half to finish 16 of 49 from the field. The Panthers kept the Monarchs guessing by mixing defensive schemes.
“We came out strong and make some things happen defensively,” Brooks said. “We need to find a way to get it done when things are not going so well.”
Great Bend coach Tim Brooks and TMP coach Joe Hertel are both graduates of St. Mary of the Plains College in Dodge City.
The Panthers resume a five-game road trip covering 500 miles Friday at Dodge City. The Panthers return home Saturday to play Liberal, which does not play Friday.

GB 12 11 6 8 – 43
TMP 12 17 17 16 – 62
GREAT BEND (3-14)—Schremmer 6 2-2 17, Esfeld 1 3-5 4, Duvall 3 0-0 7, Sam Ryan 1 0-0 2, Blessing 2 0-2 5, Miller 2 1-2 5, Stueder 1 0-0 2, Totals 16-49 6-11 43.
TMP (12-5)—McFarland 6 2-3 17, Renz 7 2-4 16, Lager 5 1-2 11, Ryan Karlin 0 2-2 2, Mayers 0 1-2 1, Mayo 2 0-0 4, Ruder 3 0-0 8, Werth 1 0-0 2, Chiu 0 1-2 1, Totals 24 9-15 62.