By JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
HAYS — As comebacks go, this one carried special meaning.
Great Bend boys basketball coach Tim Brooks earned his first victory when the Panthers rallied for a 65-61 double overtime victory over Garden City Saturday in the Gerald Mitchell Hays City Shootout.
Panthers Konner Ireland and Koy Brack converted back-to-back 3-point goals for a 62-56 lead in the second overtime. Ireland and Jacob Murray added free throws for a 64-61 lead.
The Panthers escaped when the Buffaloes missed three chances on 3-pointers to force a third overtime. Ty Esfeld added a final free throw.
The Panthers (1-2) earned fourth place after rallying from a 51-45 deficit for a stunning comeback in overtime without leading scorer Kody Crosby, who had fouled out. The Panthers trailed by 13 points in the second and third periods. Ireland made a pair of 3-pointers and Brayden Smith scored six points to start a third-quarter rally.
“The key today was all heart, desire and resiliency,” Brooks said. “Our guys showed resiliency. “Our guys hit big shots, which was good to see. We were not scared of the moment.”
Down 51-45, Logan Perry and Crosby scored baskets and Smith added two free throws for a 51-51 tie. Buffalo Griff Brunson had two chances for the lead, but he missed a pair of one-and-one free throws.
Ireland’s two free throws tied the score at 56 and Garret Doll missed the game-winning field goal attempt in the first overtime.
Crosby and Smith each scored 16 points and scrappy Ireland added 12 second-half points. The Panthers dominated the boards 39-19.
“Rebounding is all in your heart,” Brooks said.
Crosby and Ireland earned Hays City Shootout All-Tournament honors.
The Buffaloes converted eight 3-pointers. Tye Davis (13), Garret Doll (12), Zac Karlin (11) and Derrick Sexton (11) scored in double figures.
The Panthers play again Dec. 10 at home against Class 6A Junction City.
• HAYS HIGH 51, MANHATTAN 49 (1st) — Shane Berens’ baseline jumper as time expired handed the Hays High Indians a 51-49 win over Manhattan in the Gerald Mitchell Hays City Shootout. Berens rebounded his own miss as time was winding down in regulation. Manhattan’s Trevor Hudgins tied the game at 49 with a 3-pointer with a minute left. The Indians converted 11 3-pointers from seven players to outscore Manhattan 33-12 from long range.
It was the Indians’ eighth Hays City Shootout championship.
After trailing 12-0, Hays converted a trio of 3-pointers to trail 14-9. Hays High led 22-18 after an 11-4 run in the second period. Hays led 27-26 on Tradgon McCrea’s rebound basket.
Manhattan regained the lead 36-29. Peyton Kieffer and Collyn Kreutzer converted 3-pointers to keep Hays close. Manhattan made three of four free throws and Hays High made two of five free throws.
• OLATHE NORTH 79, TMP 71 (3rd) — Olathe North’s Kenny Byers scored 32 points to lead the Eagles to avenge a first-round loss to the Monarchs. Tymer Jackson added 15 points for the Eagles.
Olathe North led 20-10 after oine quarter and 43-32 at halftime.
TMP’s David McFarland scored 17 points and converted five 3-pointers. Creighton Renz (14) and Hayden Lowe (13) scored in double figures.
HAYS CITY SHOOTOUT
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Kenny Byers, Olathe North; Hayden Lowe, TMP; Creighton Renz, TMP; Garret Doll, Garden City; Carlos Acosta, Garden City; Kody Crosby, Great Bend; Konner Ireland, Great Bend; Ethan Nunnery, Hays High; Claiborne Kyles, Hays High; Shane Berens, Hays High; Trevor Hudgins, Manhattan; Tommy Ekart, Manhattan.
Most Inspirational Player—Tommy Ekart, Manhattan.
SATURDAY’S GAMES
Championship—Hays High 51, Manhattan 49
3rd Place—Olathe North 79, TMP 71
4th Place—Great Bend 65, Garden City 61, 2 OT
PANTHERS 65, BUFFALOES 61
FOURTH PLACE
GC 14 13 9 15 5 5 – 61
GB 9 8 19 15 5 9 – 65
GC—Tye Davis 5-9 0-0 13; Garret Doll 5-12 1-3 12; Zac Karlin 5-9 1-2 13; Derrick Sexton 3-8 3-4 11; Brunson 2-4 0-3 4; Demarcus Elliot 1-1 1-2 3; Carlos Acosta 1-6 3-4 5; Totals 22-49 9-18 61.
GB—Brayden Smith 7-12 2-2 16; Kody Crosby 6-14 2-7 16; Konner Ireland 3-6 3-5 12; Eric Woods 2-3 0-0 5; Ty Esfeld 0-0 1-2 1; Koy Brack 1-2 3-4 6; Jacob Murray 1-6 1-7 3; Logan Perry 1-1 4-4 6; Totals 21-45 16-31 65.
HAYS 51, MANHATTAN 49
CHAMPIONSHIP
MHS 14 12 17 6 — 49
HHS 9 18 13 11 — 51
MHS—Trevor Hudgins 6 0-0 16, Tommy Ekart 5 0-0 10, Cade Roberts 5 0-0 10, Luke Saville 1 0-0 2, Dawson Stewart 1 0-0 2, Ian Trapp 1 0-0 2, Micah Wiggins 2 0-0 4, Josh Haus 0 3-4 3, Totals 21 3-4 49.
HH—Shane Berens 6 0-0 14, Ethan Nunnery 2 0-0 6, Peyton Kieffer 2 0-0 6, Tradgon McCrae 2 2-2 6, Tyrese Hill 2 0-2 4, Collyn Kreutzer 2 0-1 6, Cole Murphy 1 0-0 3, Xander Swayne 1 0-0 3, Claiborne Kyles 1 0-0 3, Totals 19 2-5 51.
OLATHE NORTH 79, TMP 71
THIRD PLACE
ON 20 23 22 14 —79
YMP 10 22 20 19 — 71
ON—Trevor Hudgins 11 10-10 32; Tymer Jackson 6 2-2 15; Brandon Clark 3 3-4 9; Adam Coffman 4 1-3 9; Shaun Freeman 1 0-0 2; Eli Williams 1 1-2 4; Eli Readman 1 1-2 3; Kaleb Walton 1 1-2 3; Lukas Milner 1 0-0 2; Totals 29 19-25 79.
TMP—David McFarland 6 0-0 17; Creighton Renz 6 2-3 14; Hayden Lowe 4 4-6 13; Chase Werth 3 2-3 8; Michael Lager 2 2-2 6; Ryan Karlin 1 2-2 4; Trent Mayo 2 0-0 5; Tate Garcia 1 0-0 2; Bruce Chiu 1 0-0 2; Totals 26 12-16 71.
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Manhattan 60, Garden City 42
Olathe North 48, Great Bend 40
Hays High 67, TMP 48
THURSDAY’S GAMES
Manhattan 65, Great Bend 50
Hays-Thomas More Prep 61, Olathe North 54
Hays High 66, Garden City 58
