After a solid trip out to western Kansas for the Colby Orange and Black tournament, the number seven-ranked Concordia High School boys basketball team picked up a pair of wins at home late last week.
Versus Clay Center, the Panthers won 66-59.
It would be the Tigers holding the early momentum for a change. Clay Center held a slim lead, before the Panthers would take the lead 11-9 on a Boone Richard three halfway through the first quarter. Clay Center would tie the game up, before taking a 18-11 lead late in the quarter. An Ayden Krier three to end the quarter made it an 18-14 Tiger lead.
Concordia would start to perform like their normal selves in the second quarter, with the Panthers putting pressure on the Tigers, chipping at the lead before a Grayson Farha three tied the game up at 21. After both teams went back and forth on the offensive end, a Chane Parker putback gave the Panthers a 29-28 lead entering the locker room.
For how rocky the Panthers were in the first half, the third quarter saw a whole new game, with Concordia opening the half with a 13-0 run and holding a 42-28 lead. Clay Center would find their offense in the last half of the third quarter, outscoring the Panthers 12-9 as Concordia held a 54-44 lead entering the fourth quarter.
Concordia would finally have breathing room in the fourth quarter, taking a 63-50 lead with two minutes to go in the game, before the Tigers scored six straight points to make it 63-56; then a Richard steal and layup put Concordia up 65-56. A late Tiger three made it 66-59 before time ran out, with the Panthers victorious 66-59.
Richard led in scoring with 14 points, five rebounds, three assists, four steals and three blocks.
Krier had 13 points, three rebounds and four assists.
Parker had 11 points, 10 rebounds, two steals and a block.
Versus Valley Heights, the Panthers won 72-40.
The Panthers took full control of the game from the opening tip, taking a 12-0 lead throughout the first half of the opening quarter, before the Mustangs would get their first points of the game. Concordia kept its foot on the gas and ended the quarter on an 11-3 run, to lead 23-5 after the first quarter.
Concordia’s offense would continue to roll in the second quarter, scoring six straight points, but the Mustangs were also able to develop some offense. Valley Heights would get 13 points in the quarter, but the Panthers would outscore them 23-13, to take a 46-18 halftime lead.
A 10-6 opening for the Panthers made it a 59-26 game halfway through the start of the third quarter, pacing the Mustangs. As the reserves started to get more playing time down the stretch, the Panthers closed on a 9-6 spurt to take a 67-32 lead entering the fourth quarter.
With a running clock through the fourth quarter, Valley Heights would outscore the Panthers 8-5. But, the moment of the game came with 48 seconds left in the game, when senior Joe Berk scored his first points of the season with an off-dribble three, to an eruption of The Jungle. One more Mustang free throw as time expired ended the game, with Concordia winning 72-40.
Ayden Krier had 17 points, five rebounds, four assists, three steals and a block.
Isaias Irigoyen had 12 points, three rebounds and a steal.
Ian Loudermilk had 10 points and three rebounds.
11 Panthers ended up in the scoring column.
