BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
HAYS – The Great Bend boys basketball team stayed within range of 6A Olathe North when the Tigers took charge with a 25-1 scoring run.
Olathe North roared into Saturday’s championship round with a dominating 71-37 semifinal victory over the Panthers.
The pesky Panthers closed within 23-17 when Dalton Miller scored five points and Sam Ryan added a 2-pointer. The Eagles closed the half with a 7-4 run for a 30-21 halftime lead.
The Panthers’ stout defense kept the Eagles’ fast break under control.
“Credit to our guys for working hard because they carried out our scouting report very well,” said Great Bend coach Tim Brooks. “Every game is a learning situation whether we win or lose. We shared the basketball. At times, we tried shots that were not there.”
The Eagles put the game away with a stunning 25-1 run for a 62-30 lead. Tymer Jackson led the Tigers with 18 points and 6-8 Lukas Milner (15), Anthony Brown (13) and Marcus Davis (10) scored in double figures.
The Eagles took advantage of the Panthers’ lack of varsity experience.
“We let it get out of control and it snowballed. We helped them out,” Brooks said. “We weren’t very good with the basketball and tried some questionable and quick shots that were contested. They got rebounds and the outlet and they scored in a hurry.”
The Panthers were outscored 61-25 from the field. Blake Penka scored six points and Miller and Nick Wondra added five points apiece. The Panthers converted 11 of 42 field goals and committed 16 turnovers.
GB 8 13 9 7 – 37
ON 13 17 17 24 – 71
GREAT BEND—Penka 2 1-2 6, Wondra 1 2-2 5, Esfeld 1 2-2 4, Ryan 1 0-1 2, Blessing 1 1-2 3, Miller 1 2-2 5, Steuder 0 3-4 3, Brown 1 0-0 2, Brack 1 0-0 3, Ryan 1 0-0 2, Schmeidler 2 0-0 4, Totals 11 11-15 37--
OLATHE NORTH—Tymer Jackson 7 2-2 18, Milner 7 1-2 15, Brown 4 1-2 13, Davis 3 4-8 10, Union 2 1-2 5, Koi Jackson 1 0-0 3, Meyer 2 0-0 4, Makul 0 1-2 1, Walton 1 0-0 2, Totals 27 10-18 71--
HAYS CITY SHOOTOUT FINALS
1ST—Olathe North 68, St. Thomas Aquinas 55
3RD—Manhattan 46, Great Bend 32
4TH—Hays High 64, William Chrisman, Mo. 62
7TH—Hays-Thomas More Prep 94, Wichita Life Prep 48
HAYS CITY SHOOTOUT SECOND ROUND
Olathe North 71, Great Bend 37
St. Thomas Aquinas 55, Manhattan 33
Hays High 82, Wichita Life Prep 54
William Chrisman 58, Hays-TMP 50
HAYS CITY SHOOTOUT FIRST ROUND
Olathe North 93, Hays High 76
Great Bend 74, Wichita Life Prep 46
St. Thomas Aquinas 65, Hays-TMP 38
Manhattan 68, William Chrisman 55
