BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com

EL DORADO – Great Bend’s Ty Esfeld made clutch shot after shot. It made perfect sense that Esfeld launched a potential game-winning 3-pointer against No. 1 ranked 4A-Division 2 Wichita Trinity Academy.
Esfeld’s final 3-point attempt bounced away and the Panthers threw away its final possession with a turnover in a heartbreaking 60-58 setback to the Knights in Thursday’s Bluestem Basketball Classic.
The showdown defied all logic, but both teams performed with efficient teamwork and patience at the offensive end.
Esfeld scored a career high 21 points with five 3-pointers and Dalton Miller added 11 points for the Panthers (1-8) in their finest performance of the season. The Panthers play El Dorado at 4:45 Friday.
“Our guys made a lot of good plays,” said Great Bend coach Tim Brooks. “When we play well, we have a chance against anyone in the state.”
The Panthers trailed 51-39 when Blake Penka sparked a shocking 13-2 scoring run with a 3-pointer. Trent Steuder and Esfeld converted 3-point plays. Dalton Miller added a basket and Esfeld’s perfect assist led to Steuder’s inside score for a 53-51 deficit.
Hilland Cozine and Chasson Linder converted 3-point plays for a 59-53 lead.
But Esfeld knocked down his fifth 3-pointer and Steuder converted two clutch free throws for a 59-58 score with 30 seconds. Caden Williams made a free throw and the Panthers missed two chances to tie or lead.
The Panthers limited their turnovers to 11 and outworked the Knights on the offensive boards for key second-chance points.
“It’s remarkable how we played deep into our bench and everyone played with confidence,” Brooks said. “Everyone played a part in it.”
The Panthers outscored the Knights 27-21 from 3-point range. Cozine scored 15 points and Caden Vanlandingham added 10 points.
“They’re a very good basketball team. They’re 10-0 for a reason,” Brooks said. “Their kids played smart. They ran counters to what we did defensively.”

GB 8 19 12 19 – 58
WT 12 16 20 12 — 60
GREAT BEND (1-8)—Esfeld 6-11 4-6 21, Duvall 0-2 0-0 0, Ryan 2-6 0-0 6, Blessing 1-1 1-3 3, Miller 3-5 4-6 11, Steuder 2-6 3-3 7, Brack 0-4 0-0 0, Penka 3-6 0-0 8, Wondra 1-2 0-0 2, Totals 18-43 12-18 58.
WICHITA TRINITY (10-0)—Kerr 0-0 2-2 2, Anderson 0-2 0-0 0, Vanlandingham 4-5 1-1 10, Jones 2-5 1-2 6, Williams 2-5 2-5 7, Baker 3-7 0-0 8, Davis 0-1 0-0 0, Linder 2-4 2-3 7, Ekeshili 0-0 0-1 0, Cozine 6-7 3-5 15, Totals 21-39 11-19 60.
3-pointers—GB 9-20 (Esfeld 5-8, Penka 2-4, Ryan 2-5, Wondra 0-1, Brack 0-2), WT 7-17 (Baker 2-5, Vanlandingham 1-2, Jones 1-2, Linder 1-2, Adler 1-2, Williams 1-3, Anderson 0-1).

EL DORADO BOYS BLUESTEM CLASSIC
THURSDAY

Wichita Trinity 60, Great Bend 58

Circle 57, El Dorado 48

Campus 68, Wichita Collegiate 59

Wichita Kapaun-Mt. Carmel 47, Newton 38
FRIDAY

Consolation—Collegiate (6-3) vs. Newton (4-6), 3

Great Bend (1-8) vs. El Dorado (4-8), 4:45

Semifinals—Wichita Trinity (10-0) vs. Circle (4-5), 6:30

Campus (3-6) vs. Kapaun-Mt. Carmel (4-6), 8:15

SATURDAY—7th—1:30; 5th—3:15; 3rd—5; 1st—6:45