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ROAD UNKIND
Panthers lose fourth straight entering break
spt mm gb boys 2
Brock Ibarra (5) of Great Bend attacks the basket on Manhattans John Perbeck (32) during Tuesday night action in Manhattan. - photo by Sarah Midgorden Manhattan Mercury

MANHATTAN — It has been road unkind for the Great Bend High School boys’ basketball team.
After winning their season opener over Newton at the Hays City Shoot-Out recently, the Panthers have now lost four straight on the road, including a 68-31 setback at the hands of Class 6A Manhattan on Tuesday night.
“We’ve just got to take a deep breath and regroup,” Great Bend head coach Chris Battin said. “We need to get ourselves under control and back together.
“Ultimately, your December record doesn’t matter as much as your record down the stretch and how we’re playing down the stretch. We’ve just got to keep our end-goal in mind and regroup.”
Manhattan guard Keaton Barragar scored 14 of his game-high 19 points in the second quarter alone, as the Indians outscored the Panthers 27-10 during the eight-minute stretch in rolling to a 36-13 halftime lead.
Manhattan forward Deante Burton added 13 points, including nine in the second quarter. He also had a pair of resounding dunks.
The one-two punch of Barragar and Burton helped deliver the knockout.
“There’s no doubt, they’re a really good basketball team and they’re well-coached, play hard and do a lot of good things,” Battin said of the Indians (1-1).
Great Bend was led in scoring by senior guard Connor Sell, who finished with eight points.
Great Bend returns to action on Tuesday, Jan. 3, for its home opener against defending Class 5A state champion McPherson.
“We’ve got to find some answers, that’s the bottom line,” Battin said. “We’ve got to take this time here to get better and get ready to go after Christmas.”

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL

At Manhattan
Manhattan High School

BOYS

Tuesday
 
Manhattan 68, Great Bend 31
GREAT BEND (1-4)
      Connor Sell 3 1-2 8, Mauricio Uribe 1 1-3 3, Chad Touslee 1 1-2 3, Brock Ibarra 2 2-5 6, Bryce Beck 0 0-0 0, Ethan Henderson 3 0-0 6, Blaise Cain 2 0-0 4, Wyatt Bayless 0 1-3 1. Totals 12 6-15 31.
MANHATTAN (1-1)
      Aaron Pulliam 1 0-0 2, Deante Burton 5 3-4 13, Jonathan Taylor 0 1-2 1, Keaton Barragar 6 4-5 19, Jacob Holloway 2 1-1 6, John Perbeck 3 1-3 7, Brandon Payne 3 6-7 12, Chris Hudgins 0 0-0 0, Pat Keck 1 0-0 2, Jacob Sobering 3 0-0 6, Blake Saville 0 0-0 0, Garret Henry 0 0-0 0. Totals 24 16-25 68.
Great Bend                   3   10   6   12  —  31      
Manhattan                    9   27  18  14  —  68
     Three-point goals — Great Bend 1 (Sell); Manhattan 4 (Barragar 3, Jacob Holloway).