jmisunas@gbtribune.com
Hutchinson High's layup drill started early and often fueled by Great Bend turnovers.
By the time, Great Bend regrouped with a 10-2 run, the Salthawks were well on their way to a dominating 66-41 non-league basketball victory Friday.
Hutchinson's versatile 6-7 Myles Thompson scored 16 points. His fast-breaking teammates contributed as Trayton Peterson (16), Jake Huhs (10) and Nic Lange (10) all scored in double figures.
It's what Great Bend coach Tim Brooks feared — the 6A Salthawks had played a challenging schedule for a 2-4 team. The Salthawks converted 20 Panther turnovers into fastbreak points. Thompson orchestrated the offense with pinpoint passing that broke down the Panthers' zone defense.
"They've got an outstanding big guy (Thompson) who can make inside and outside shots," Brooks said. "He threw over the top of our zone defense. Hutchinson plays with a great pace."
Outside of Joseph Moeder's hustling 16-point inside spark, it was a tough scoring night for the Panthers. Brayton Council contributed seven points and Stefan Spray added six points.
The Salthawks clamped down on Spray and pressured point guard Sage Koelsch and the Panther ballhandlers effectively. Hutchinson scored on fastbreak points.
"Hutchinson scored 14 transition points the first half," said Great Bend coach Tim Brooks. "We'd take a quick shot or turn it over. You can't have lapses like that. We've got to be better."
Hutchinson opened the first quarter ahead 11-2 and ended the second quarter with a 9-2 run for a 35-22 halftime lead. Hutchinson finished off an 18-2 scoring run with a 9-0 streak to start the second half for a 44-22 lead.
The Panthers converted 17 of 40 field goals, 1 of 15 from 3-point range in an ineffective shooting performance. Twice, the Panthers executed a pass to a player cutting at the basket, but both times they missed the inside shot.
Great Bend plays winless Goddard (0-8) Monday at Wichita Kapaun-Mt. Carmel at 5:30 p.m. The Panthers play the Crusaders Thursday (5:30) and Wichita Trinity Saturday (3 p.m.) in Wichita.
Hutchinson 18 17 13 18 — 66
Great Bend 6 16 6 13 — 41
HUTCHINSON (2-4)—Thompson 5-9 5-7 16, Peterson 6-7 0-0 13, Huhs 3-5 2-4 10, Lange 4-7 2-2 10, Newquist 2-4 5-5 9, Chapman 0-1 4-4 4, Titan Heneha 0-2 2-2 2, Robertson 0-2 2-2 2, O'Sullivan 0-1 0-0 0, Casteneda 0-0 0-2 0, Witt 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 20-37 23-28 66
GREAT BEND (3-5)—Joseph Moeder 8-11 0-3 16, Council 2-4 2-2 7, Spray 3-10 0-0 6, Koelsch 1-10 3-4 5, Mathew Moeder 1-1 1-2 3, Sam Hall 1-1 0-0 2, Scheuerman 1-2 0-2 2, Jerke 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 17-40 6-13 41
3-pointers—H 3-8 (Peterson 1-2, Huhs 1-1, Thompson 1-3, Chapman 0-1, Witt 0-1, Robertson 0-1), GB 1-15 (Council 1-2, Jerke 0-1, Scheuerman 0-1, Spray 0-5, Koelsch 0-6). Technicals—H team, Sam Hall
