The Great Bend boys basketball team led 50-40, seven minutes away from surprising Hays High for the second year in a row. The Indians spoiled the Panthers’ upset bid with a game-ending 26-10 scoring run for a 66-60 victory.
Great Bend (1-6) has lost six consecutive games entering Friday’s homecoming basketball game against Buhler. The Panthers’ 60-point outburst beat their average by 23 points over their prior five games. Blake Penka scored 10 points and Trent Steuder added nine points.
Great Bend coach Tim Brooks believes the Panthers are on target for a breakout victory
“We’re slowly gaining confidence,” said Great Bend coach Brooks. “The ways Hays plays offense, we were able to take advantage. I liked the way we attacked offensively.”
Other than Hays’ 3-point shots, the Panthers have succeeded defensively against Garden City and Hays.
“Defensively, we’re doing a nice job on our game plan and taking away things the other team wants to do,” Brooks said. “We’re doing a great job with our scouting reports.”
Buhler (5-3) features 6-7, 250-pound Grant Owens (13 ppg), guard Dalton Brown (13 ppg) and Adam Schrag (10 ppg). The Crusaders play a fast pace and is effective with 3-point shooting.
“Buhler is a good basketball team. They’re not as perimeter-oriented as last year because Grant Owens is a tall and skilled inside player,” Brooks said. “Trent Steuder has been playing very well for us inside. We’ve tried to play more physical defense.”
GREAT BEND GIRLS – The script is a similar sad tale for the Great Bend girls, who were one defensive stop away from rallying from an 18-point deficit against Hays in a 62-53 overtime loss.
The Panthers rely on Camryn Dunekack and Carley Brack, but every game, a different player has excelled. Brack scored 11 points, helped by Annie Mills (9), Dunekack (8) and Alyssa Clark (8).
The best players for Buhler (2-6) are sophomores Alyvia Owens (14 ppg), Maggie Epp (11) and 3-point shooter Alexis Marchione (10 ppg). The Crusaders are riding a two-game winning streak after beating winless El Dorado and one-win Winfield.
GB High School—JV girls, 4; varsity girls, 6, varsity boys, 7:30
PAC—JV boys, 4; Ninth boys, 5:30; Ninth girls, 7
GREAT BEND GIRLS (2-5)—W Wichita Life 51-47 (OT); L Hays High 36-57; L Manhattan 41-65; L Junction City 63-69; L Hutchinson 41-50; W Garden City 46-34; L Hays High 53-62
BUHLER GIRLS (2-6)—L Goddard 35-61; L Salina South 39-57; L Circle 17-45; L Augusta 33-36; L Newton 33-45; L McPherson 29-61; L Winfield 48-45; W El Dorado
GREAT BEND BOYS (1-6)—W Wichita Life 74-36; L Olathe North 37-71; L Manhattan 32-46; L Junction City 39-49; L Hutchinson 48-54; L Garden City 28-33; L Hays High 60-66
BUHLER BOYS (5-3)—W Goddard 56-50; W Salina South 59-42; W Circle 66-64; L Augusta 44-45; L Newton 55-66; L McPherson 48-59; W Winfield 45-32; W El Dorado 45-32
