CLAY CENTER — Closing out the regular season on the road to NCKL rival Clay Center, the Concordia boys basketball team ended the regular season on a three-game win streak with a 54-50 victory, to advance to 17-4 on the year.
The Tigers came out in full control of the game, jumping out to a 7-0 lead early. Concordia was able to fight back and made it a 12-11 ballgame. Clay Center made a layup, but the Panthers got an Ian Loudermilk free throw and an Isaias Irigoyen layup to tie the game at 14 to end the first quarter.
An 8-2 run put the Tigers up 22-16 in the second quarter, with Concordia not able to break through and cut into the lead. Clay Center pushed the lead to 10, 30-20, to end the second quarter, as the Panther offense went ice cold.
Concordia opened the third quarter with an 8-0 run to get right back into the game, as Clay Center tried its hardest to maintain a lead. An Irigoyen hook shot finally put the Panthers back in the lead, to close the third quarter with a 43-42 lead.
Five straight points for Concordia to open the fourth quarter made it a six-point game, but Clay Center wouldn’t let the Panthers pull away. The Tigers were able to get the lead down to one, 50-49, with 1:09 to go in the game, but the Panthers were able to put away the game with free throws to take the victory 54-50.
Chane Parker led in scoring with 12 points, 11 rebounds and a block.
Ayden Krier had 11 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Irigoyen had 11 points, 10 rebounds, one assist and one steal.
