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Panthers hold on to defeat Riley County, 52-50

RILEY — Playing on the road for the final time in the regular season, the Concordia Panthers held on to defeat the Riley County Falcons 52-50 Tuesday night.
Concordia, which has won three of its last five games to improve to 5-11, plays its final four games of  the regular season at home starting with a North Central Kansas League matchup against Chapman on Friday night.
After trailing much of the first half, the Panthers would build a seven-point lead in the third quarter.
Riley County battled back to go up by three points.
Concordia reclaimed the lead in the final period, and escaped with a win when Ian Uphoff's shot to tie the game as time ran out wouldn't fall.
“It was nice to win a game on the road against a really good ball club,” Concordia coach Michael Roe said, “They are either going to be the two or three seed in our sub-state so knowing we can compete with one of those teams kind of gives us some home for the end of the year.”
Trailing 43-42 to start the fourth quarter, the Panthers got two free throws by Dyelan Reed, a basket by Ivon Owen and a three-point shot by Chas Carlgren to go on top to stay, 49-43.
Riley County (10-5) would battle back to within two points, 51-49, when Uphoff knocked down a three-point shot with 59 seconds to play in the game.
Wyatt Trost missed the front end of a one-and-one opportunity for Concordia 12 seconds later.
Carlgren grabbed the offensive rebound and was fouled. He also missed from the free throw line.
“Our free throw shooting hasn't been the best, or maybe as good as it should be,” Roe said, “We are still working on it. We are getting better as we finish the year out, so hopefully this will give us some confidence at the free throw line knowing we have been in this position before.”
Garrett Harmison made one of two free throws with 27 seconds remaining to pull Riley County within a point, 51-50.
Trost was fouled two seconds later. He made his first free throw, but missed the second, and the Panthers led 52-50.
Following a Riley Count timeout, the Panthers were able to tip the ball out of bounds with four seconds left.
“The first timeout we were talking about what they wanted, and we felt like they were going to look for a pick and roll and try to hit the roll man. Our guys played probably the best 20 seconds of defense they have all year. They were active with their hands and got a deflection, and now they have a situation where they have to score in four seconds, which is a much better case for us.” Roe said.
The Falcons would call another timeout, and then got the ball into Uphoff's hands, but his running 15 footer didn't fall.
Reed, despite facing a box-and-one defense much of the game, led Concordia with 15 points. He also pulled down nine rebounds.
Monzon added 13 points, four rebounds and two steals.
Harmison, Avery Holle and Wyatt Earhart scored nine points each for Riley County.
Concordia trailed 9-6 after one quarter of play.
A three-point shot early in the second period pulled the Panthers even at 9-9.
The game would be tied four more times over the next 3:30.
Scoring five straight points, the Falcons went up 22-17.
Reed hit one of two free throws and then completed a three-point play to get Concordia within a point, 22-21.
A three by Garren Jackson gave Riley County a 25-21 cushion.
Reserve guard Gavin Thomas completed a three-point play for the Panthers to again make it a one-point game, 25-24.
Reed hit a jumper as time ran out in the first half to give Concordia its first lead of the game, 26-25.
Owen connected on his first three-point field goal of the season early in the third quarter to push the Panthers' lead to 29-25. He finished with a career high five points.
Concordia would build the lead to seven points, 40-33.
Holle and Jackson hit threes during a 10-0 that gave Riley County the lead back, 43-40.
A jumper by Monzon left Concordia down by just a point, 43-42.
The Panthers would score the first seven points of the fourth quarter go back on top, 49-43.
Riley County mounted a late charge, but was unable to overtake the Panthers.
Concordia now hosts a Chapman team ranked in the top 10 in Class 4A on Friday night, and then Phillipsburg, ranked third in Class 3A, next Tuesday.
“We do have an opportunity to build and get a little bit better, but at the same time we are going to have to play really well to get a win,” Roe said.

CONCORDIA (52)
Vignery 0-0-1 0, Trost 3-3-4 9, Monzon 5-1-1 13, Owen 2-0-2 5, Carlgren 3-0-4 7, Reed 5-5-3 15, Rosenbaum 0-0-2 0, Thomas 1-1-0 3. Totals: 19-10-17 52.
RILEY COUNTY (50)
Jackson 2-0-3 6, C. Holle 0-0-1 0, A. Holle 4-0-0 9, G. Harmison 3-3-3 9, Earhart 3-3-2 9, Uphoff 4-0-4 9, T. Harmison 0-1-2 1. Totals: 16-14-15 50.

 

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