BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com

GARDEN CITY — The red-hot No. 4 state-ranked Great Bend Panthers achieved a rare goal while running Garden City out of their home gym 60-35 Friday night.

Great Bend scored 31 first-quarter points and roared to a 47-20 halftime lead with zero first-half turnovers. The Panthers clinch a 5A postseason home site seeking back-to-back state tournament trips.  The Panthers (16-1, 6-0 WAC) own a 14-game winning streak.

"That was fun to be a part of," said Great Bend coach Kyle Kriegh. 

All-stater Ian Premer scored 19 first-half points, finished a slam dunk and grabbed 10 rebounds for his 13th consecutive double/double before departing with a sprained ankle. The Buffaloes tried a physical defensive style trying to slow the athletic Premer.

"Ian's fine. He deserves credit for keeping his composure," Kriegh said. "He gets 'mauled' every game. It can't be 'no calls.'

Premer's sidekick 6-foot-6 Ben Nicholson continues his hot streak with 18 points and a trio of 3-pointers to spark the 31-point first quarter. Nicholson is an anchor on the Panthers' trapping defense and has improved his rebounding prowess.

"Ben doesn't back down from a challenge," Kriegh said. "He's focusing on defense because his length helps. He's got all the intangibles, and he's going what's best for our team."

Point guard Daxton Minton is riding a hot streak of his own. He converted a trio of 3-pointers, scored 14 points and pushed the offensive pace perfectly. Minton's 3-point play pushed the Panthers to a 30-point lead and a running clock.

"Dax is shooting it with confidence," Kriegh said. "He's the ultimate competitor." 

Jacob Hall scored 10 and Izeah Reed eight as the Panthers nearly featured five starters in double figures. The Panthers converted 27 of 61 field goals, 6 of 17 from 3-point range.

Garden City's athletic Dallas Rosales scored 17 points after an 8-point first quarter. Thomas Longa scored 15 points and matched Ian Premer with a slam dunk off a Daniel Monarrez lob pass. The other Buffaloes combined for 4 of 29 field goals (14%). The Buffaloes made 5 of 25 3-pointers (20%).

Great Bend 31 16 10 12 — 69

Garden City 10 10 15 6 — 41

GREAT BEND (16-1, 6-0) (FG 3 FT TP)—Ian Premer 9-16 (0-2) 1-2 19, Nicholson 7-12 (3-4) 1-2 18, Minton 5-8 (3-5) 1-1 14, Jacob Hall 3-10 (0-3) 4-6 10, Reed 3-7 2-2 8, Stroup 0-2 (0-1) 0-0 0, Wondra 0-4 (0-1) 0-0 0, Alec Premer 0-1 0-2 0, Fanshier 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 27-61 (6-17) 9-15 69

GARDEN CITY (3-13, 1-4) (FG 3 FT TP)—Rosales 5-13 (3-9) 4-7 17, Thomas Longa 7-9 (1-1) 0-0 15, Hemmert 2-8 (0-3) 0-0 4, Monarrez 1-7 (1-4) 0-0 3, Jagels 1-5 (0-3) 0-0 2, Strecker 0-6 (0-4) 0-0 0, Morales 0-1 0-0 0, Chairez 0-1 0-0 0, Nemecheck (0-1) 0-0 0, Totals 16-51 (5-25) 4-7 41

WAC BOYS

Great Bend 6-0 16-1

Hays High 4-1 9-7

Dodge City 2-2 5-11

Garden City 1-4 3-13

Liberal 0-6 3-15

2-13—Great Bend 75, Dodge City 37

2-14—Great Bend 69, Garden City 41; Hays 67, Liberal 30

2-17—Hays at McPherson

GARDEN CITY GIRLS 60, PANTHERS 35 —  Garden City Buffalo Mia Hannagan converted seven consecutive 3-pointers the first time the Buffaloes stampeded past the Panthers. 

Second verse, same as the first.

She opened with a pair of long-range 3-pointers against token Panther defenders who aren't used to seeing shooters fire from 25 feet. Hannagan made the last of her four 3-pointers to trigger a running clock  after three quarters 57-27. The Buffaloes made 8 of 23 shots from long range.

"When the ball goes in like that, there's not much you can do," said Great Bend coach Jade Winter. "We could tell they were 'feeling it,' and they took advantage of that."

Garden City standout Kierrah Pinchon attacked the basket for 20 points and seven free throws to compliment the perimeter offense. Kaylee McDonald added eight points for Garden City (9-7, 3-2).

Great Bend Panther Cassie Ellegood continues to gain confidence with a career high 14-point effort by playing strong inside the paint. Chayla Prendergast contributed six points with another solid effort.

"It was nice to see Cassie put the ball in the bucket," Winter said.

Jordan Harbaugh made five second-quarter free throws to draw the Panthers within 26-17. The Buffaloes closed the half on a 9-0 run and continued the momentum with a 22-8 third-quarter advantage for a 57-37 lead.

Playing back-to-back road games at Dodge City and Garden City after bus rides proved to be a physical challenge.

"It's hard when you don't get a day off. Our legs were tired," Winter said. "We need to support each other and try to get better as a basketball team."

The Panthers play unbeaten Hays and unbeaten 3A Hesston along with Dodge City. The No. 15 seeded Panthers (5-12, 1-5 WAC) appear destined to play No. 1 ranked Topeka Seaman (16-0 or No. 4 ranked Hays High (16-0) to start 5A postseason play.

Great Bend 7 12 8 8  — 35

Garden City 18 17 22 3 — 60

GREAT BEND (5-12, 1-5) (FG 3 FT TP)—Ellegood 6-16 2-4 14, Meredith Mazouch 2-10 (1-3) 0-0 5, Prendergast 3-6 0-0 6, Harbaugh 0-4 5-6 5, Bryant 2-6 (0-1) 0-0 4, Mayers (0-2) 0-0 0, Katherine Mazouch 0-2 1-2 1, McCauley 0-7 (0-4) 0-0 0, Reimer 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 13-46 (1-11) 8-12 35 

GARDEN CITY (9-7, 3-2) (FG 3 FT TP)—Pinchon 6-14 (1-2) 7-8 20, Hannagan (4-13) 0-0 12, Kaylee McDonald 4-6 0-0 8, Hailey Brown 2-8 (1-5) 0-0 5, Powers 2-2 0-0 4, Meng 0-3 0-0 0, Korf 2-5 (1-3) 0-0 5, Villegas (1-1) 0-0 3, Davis (0-1) 0-0 0, Celis 1-2 0-0 2, Natalie Brown 0-1 1-2 1, Finch 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 22-57 (8-23) 8-10 60

WAC GIRLS

Hays High 5-0 16-0

Liberal 4-2 12-6

Garden City 3-2 9-7

Great Bend 1-5 5-12

Dodge City 0-4 1-15

2-13—Great Bend 49, Dodge City 45

2-14—Garden City 60, Great Bend 35; Hays 65, Liberal 32

2-17—Hays at McPherson