BY JIM MISUNAS

jmisunas@gbtribune.com

EL DORADO – Great Bend’s Brayden Smith took charge with a 10-point first half. Kody Crosby and Jacob Murray asserted offensive control after halftime.

The Panthers built a 16-point lead and beat the Circle Thunderbirds 59-51 Friday at the Bluestem Basketball Classic to snap a seven-game losing streak. The Panthers (2-9) play at 3:15 p.m. Saturday in the fifth-place game.

“I feel good for the kids. Two wins (in a row) would make a streak and we’re excited about that,” said Great Bend coach Tim Brooks.

Crosby scored 21 points. Smith netted 12 points and Murray added nine points. The Panthers outscored Circle 17-7 from the free throw line and dominated inside to offset ten 3-pointers by Circle. Circle outscored the Panthers 30-6 from 3-point range.

Smith dominated the first quarter with 10 points for a 14-6 lead before the Panthers went scoreless for five minutes. Circle’s Jude Warren converted back-to-back baskets, including a four-point play to ignite a 10-0 run for a 16-14 Thunderbird lead.

But the Panthers re-established their inside offense and scored 16 points in the final five minutes of the half. Crosby scored eight points and Logan Perry scored twice for a 30-24 halftime lead.

“We were patient getting the ball inside and taking better shots. With that, your percentage goes up,” Brooks said. “Our posts did a very good job of doing a variety of moves. We’ve got guys who can put in the hole.”

Great Bend’s defense dominated the third period for a 44-30 lead. Circle’s Cal Hartley was the only Thunderbird who scored in the period. Murray and Crosby each scored two baskets.

The Panthers led 50-35 on Crosby’s free throws when Circle made one final run. Hartley scored 10 fourth-quarter points and Jeff Failes and Dylan Meier scored for a 51-45 score. But Crosby and Ireland finished 10 of 11 on fourth-quarter free throws.

Brooks thought the Panthers’ perimeter defense and rebounding proved critical.

“It was a total team effort,” Brooks said. “Our defense is playing pretty well. Everybody was blocking out and going for the rebound.”

PANTHERS 59, CIRCLE 51

Circle 12 12 6 21 – 51

Great Bend 14 16 14 15  – 59

CIRCLE—Hartley 7-21 2-2 21; Meier 3-5 0-1 7; Warren 3-10 1-1 8; Failes 1-2 0-0 3; Straw 0-3 2-2 2; Erickson 3-6 0-0 8; Jernigan 0-1 2-2 2; Lies 0-1 0-0 0; Totals 17-50 7-8 51.

GREAT BEND—Kody Crosby 7-12 6-6 21; Brayden Smith 5-8 2-7 12; Ty Esfeld 1-2 0-3 2; Konner Ireland 0-2 5-6 5; Logan Perry 3-4 2-2 8; Koy Brack 0-2 2-2 2; Jacob Murray 4-9 0-0 9; Eric Woods 0-1 0-0 0; Totals 21-40 17-26 59.

3-point goals—GB 2-9 (Murray 1-2, Ireland 0-1, Crosby 1-4, Brack 0-1, Woods 0-1); C 10-27 (Hartley 5-13, Erickson 2-4, Meier 1-2, Failes 1-3, Warren 1-5). TO—GB 16, Circle 16.

EL DORADO BLUESTEM CLASSIC

THURSDAY

Wichita Collegiate 69, Great Bend 56

Gardner-Edgerton 59, Circle 51

Wichita Trinity 51, El Dorado 46

Wichita Kapaun-Mt. Carmel 58, Campus 44

FRIDAY

Great Bend 59, Circle 51

El Dorado vs. Campus

Wichita Trinity vs. Kapaun-Mt. Carmel

Wichita Collegiate vs. Gardner-Edgerton