Concordia suffers 49-48 loss to Phillipsburg

Returning to the court less than 19 hours after suffering a hard fought loss to Wamego in six overtimes, the Concordia Panthers dropped a second straight home game to Phillipsburg.
Ty Sides knocked down a three-point shot with 21 seconds on the clock to give Phillipsburg a one point lead on Concordia.
Concordia came up empty on its final two offensive possessions in falling 49-48 to Phillipsburg Saturday afternoon in the Concordia Junior-Senior High School gymnasium.
After having to work 24 extra minutes in the marathon North Central League loss to Wamego on Friday night, Concordia took the floor for the game against Phillipsburg, that had been scheduled for Tuesday but was postponed because of the extremely cold temperatures.
“We talked about not letting that Wamego loss linger and not thinking about being tired at all, but we came out sluggish,” Concordia coach Derek Holmes said. “Either way, we just can’t make excuses. We came out and just weren’t into the game the first few minutes, but still should have won the game at the end.”
After falling behind 9-0 to start the game, Concordia would battle back to take a 32-27 lead on Phillipsburg early in the second half.
Back-to-back baskets by Sides, a 5-8 senior guard, started an 11-1 Phillipsburg run.
After Sides made the two threes, Cav Carlgren connected on one of two free throws to get Concordia within two points, 35-33.
Sides, who led all scorers with 26 points, scored on a drive and hit another three to give Phillipsburg a 38-33 advantage going into the fourth quarter.
A three-point play by Jeremy Ford 26 seconds into the final period pushed Phillipsburg’s lead to 41-33.
It was then that Concordia came roaring back.
Phillipsburg missed five consecutive field goal attempts and committed a turnover on its next six offensive possessions.
Chase Parker, a 6-6 senior, scored inside to ignite a 10-0 Concordia spurt.
Carlgren made two free throws, Wyatt Trost scored on a drive, Tyler Hobrock went two of two from the line and Trost hit from 15 feet to give Concordia the lead back at 43-41 with 4:00 remaining in the game.
Sides drove to the basket and scored to tie the game at 43-43.
A bucket by Parker put Concordia back on top, 45-43, with 2:41 on the clock.
Parker, dominating inside against a Phillipsburg team without a player over 6-2, was 10 of 17 from the field in scoring 21 points. He also grabbed seven rebounds.
Each team would miss a pair of free throws.
Freshman Joey Henderson made two free throws with 52 seconds left to give Concordia a 47-43 advantage.
Sides answered with a three-point shot to cut the deficit to one point, 47-46.
Carlgren hit one of two free throws to put Concordia up 48-46 with 30 seconds remaining.
Sides struck again from three-point range nine seconds later, and Phillipsburg had the lead back at 49-48.
“We missed three free throws in the last two minutes and we give up two threes in the last 45 seconds to their best player. We know he is going to shoot the ball and we don’t get out on him and he hits two threes,” Holmes said,
Following a timeout with 12.2 seconds to play, Aceyn Cash was unable to knock down a three-point attempt that would have given Concordia the lead back.
“We are down one, in that situation you have got to get the ball to the basket,” Holmes said. “Get to the basket and either draw a foul or get to the rim and score it. You can’t settle for a three.”
Concordia would foul Sides with 5.5 seconds left. He missed the front end of a one-and-one opportunity.
Carlgren would come up with the rebound and launch a shot from about halfcourt that bounced off the front of the rim as time expired.
Carlgren finished with 11 points, 13 rebounds and five assists for Concordia.
Trost added eight points, seven rebounds and three assists.
Concordia was 19 of 49 from the field for 39 percent and missed on all seven three-point attempts.
Sides was the only Phillipsburg player to score in double figures.
After falling behind 9-0 to start the game, Concordia went on a 12-3 spurt to tie the game at 12-12.
Phillipsburg scored the final three points of the first quarter, and led 15-12.
Parker scored the first eight points of the second stanza to give Concordia a 20-15 lead.
Phillipsburg outscored Concordia 12-6 over the final three minutes of the first half, and led 27-26.
Baskets by Parker, Carlgren and Hobrock put Concordia back on top 32-27 in the first three minutes of the second half.
The two teams then exchanged runs to set up the frantic final seconds.
Concordia wraps up a five game home stand by hosting Clay Center on Tuesday and then plays a makeup game at Abilene Thursday to close out the regular season.
“We have got to get our legs back under us and get over those tough losses,” Holmes said.

PHILLIPSBURG (49)
Keeten 1-0-1 3, Sides 9-2-1 26, Johnson 2-1-4 5, Jo. Ford 3-1-3 8, Rodriguez 0-0-2 0, Sholton 0-2-0 2, Je. Ford 2-1-4 5. Totals: 18-6-15 49.
CONCORDIA (48)
Vignery 0-0-1 0, Trost 4-0-4 8, Cash 0-0-4 4, Carlgren 3-5-2 11, Henderson 1-2-1 4, Hobrock 1-2-3 4, Parker 10-1-4 21. Totals: 19-10-18 48.