BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
KINGMAN — Great Bend basketball coach Kyle Kriegh learned his lesson well.
The Panthers were happy when longtime Haven basketball coach Lonnie Paramore left to coach at Halstead after recording 423 high school wins.
One year after getting shackled by Haven's 1-3-1 zone defense in a 53-41 loss, the Panthers created a fast tempo with an aggressive defensive game plan that keyed a dominating 78-44 rout over the Wildcats in Thursday's Kingman Basketball Classic.
The Panthers' trapping defense and quick transition game led to 12 of 15 shooting and a 30-11 lead after one quarter. By halftime, Great Bend led 47-24. The Panthers shot 72% inside the 3-point stripe (23 of 32).
"We didn't take them lightly," Kriegh said. "It was nice to see our guys play like that."
As usual, all-stater Ian Premer set the offensive tone with four slam dunks and 29 points off 12 of 14 shooting. Haven's fouling strategy was effective when Premer converted 4 of 10 foul shots. Premer scored 15 first-quarter points.
Kid brother Alec Premer continues to stand tall next to his 6-6 brother with 10 points and 4-of-5 shooting. Point guard Daxton Minton continued his recent hot streak with solid ballhandling and 11 points off a perfect shooting night.
"Alec has to pave his own way," Kriegh said. "He plays more athletic every day."
A slow tempo was the Panthers' Kryptonite twice last year. Hesston shocked the Panthers 53-41 in a similar low possession game.
The Panthers defense delivered two signature plays. Jumping jack Cooper Ohnmacht soared into the air to reject a 3-point attempt by Zade Turner. Defensive standout Minton coaxed Haven's pesky Daelon Mahaney into a charging foul.
The Panthers' defense shut out Haven's Brogan Wray after he converted four 3-pointers for a 13-point first half.
Great Bend's bench produced 21 points with an effective attacking style.
Defending 2A state champion Sterling (4-0) matches up perfectly with the No. 3 ranked 5A Panthers (4-0) in Saturday's championship showdown. Sterling is keyed by 6-6 Boston Ekart and feisty point guard Blake Smith, virtually assuring a high-tempo matchup. The Minton versus Smith matchup at point guard is worth the price of admission.
"We have a ton of respect for Sterling, and we'll have our work cut out for us," Kriegh.
Haven 11 13 12 8 — 44
Great Bend 30 17 21 10 — 78
HAVEN (FG/3/FT/TP)—Wray (4-5) 1-2 13; Martin 3-8 (1-5) 1-2 8; Jacques 2-6 (1-4) 1-3 6; Turner 3-8 (0-2) 0-2 6; Altvater 2-4 (0-1) 1-3 5; Brawner 0-0 4-4 4; Mahaney 0-0 2-4 2; Bontrager 0-4 0-0 0; Boice 0-1 0-0 0; Totals 14-36 (6-17) 10-20 44
GREAT BEND (FG/3/FT/TP)—Ian Premer 12-14 (1-2) 4-10 29; Minton 3-3 5-5 11; Alec Premer 4-5 (1-2) 1-2 10; Jacob Hall 3-8 (0-1) 3-4 9; Ohnmacht 2-3 (0-1) 1-2 5; Unruh 2-2 (1-1) 0-0 5; Stroup 1-2 (1-1) 0-0 3; Brown 1-2 (1-1) 0-0 3; Mazouch 1-1 0-0 2; Wondra 0-1 1-2 1; Prilling 0-1 0-0 0; Totals 29-42 (5-9) 15-25 78
HAVEN GIRLS 59, PANTHERS 34 — Haven's Avery Brawner converted several layups off turnovers in a 28-point effort to fuel the Wildcats' 59-34 victory over Great Bend. Brawner and the Wildcats converted 28 Panther turnovers into a layup drill.
Brawner outscored Great Bend 17-12 for a 31-12 Haven halftime lead. Great Bend made 4 of 19 field goals with 16 turnovers, scoring 12 points on 37 offensive attempts.
Give the Panther girls credit.
A sleepwalking first half was followed by an aggressive half-court and full-court defense that forced 18 of 30 Haven turnovers after halftime.
Great Bend's Alex Mayers played brilliantly with an 11-point game and superior defense and rebounding. Denver Ringo enjoyed her best game with eight points and stout defensive play.
The Panthers (0-4) have been consistent with either a slow offensive start or a poor third quarter. This time, the Panthers outscored Haven 15-14 in the third quarter to prove they could match Haven's opportunistic defense.
Great Bend basketball coach Jade Winter believes the Panthers must maintain their poise when things are aren't going well.
"We're trying too hard to catch up after we try and dig ourselves out of a hole," Winter said. "We can't afford to get flustered. You've got to take it one shot, one pass, one possession at a time."
Winter liked how Alex Mayers and Ringo responded after losing by 20-plus points. The Panthers are still figuring out a game-day intensity level.
"We need to come out faster," she said. "It's like we have to play 'angry' before we get going."
Great Bend 6 6 15 7 — 34
Haven 16 15 14 14 — 59
GREAT BEND (FG/3/FT/TP)—Meredith Mazouch 1-3 (0-1) 0-0 2; McCauley 1-8 (1-6) 1-3 4; Prendergast 2-10 1-2 5; Alex Mayers 4-9 (2-5) 1-2 11; Umphres 0-1 0-0 0; Stevie Mayers 1-8 0-2 2; Ringo 2-4 (0-2) 4-5 8; Totals 12-44 (3-14) 7-14 34
HAVEN (FG/3/FT/TP)—Brawner 13-22 (0-2) 2-3 28; Williams (3-4) 0-0 9; Nikkel (0-1) 0-0 0; DeFrain 0-1 0-0 0; Cooperider 1-3 (0-1) 2-2 4; Patry 4-6 1-2 9; Nisly 0-2 (0-1) 0-0 0; Totals 25-43 (2-10) 5-7 59
KINGMAN GIRLS CLASSIC—12-13—1ST—Clearwater vs. Sterling; 3RD—Haven vs. Meade; 5TH—Kingman vs. Great Bend;
SECOND ROUND—Haven 59, Great Bend 34; Sterling 55, Kingman 33; FIRST ROUND—Clearwater 53, Great Bend 33; Meade 54, Kingman 33; Sterling 50, Meade 41; Clearwater 34, Haven 31
KINGMAN BOYS CLASSIC—12-13—1ST—Sterling vs. Great Bend; 3RD—Meade vs. Haven; 5TH—Kingman vs. Clearwater
SECOND ROUND—Great Bend 78, Haven 44; Sterling 76, Kingman 34; FIRST ROUND—Great Bend 77, Clearwater 37; Meade 57, Kingman 35; Sterling 73, Meade 44; Haven 48, Clearwater 34;
