Panthers knock off Buffs, 66-28

BELLEVILLE — A short-handed Concordia High School boys’ basketball team put together a 28-0 run in the second half to pull away to a 66-28 victory over the Republic County Buffaloes on Tuesday night.
Concordia, playing its first game since a road win over Clay Center on December 19, was without starters Joey Henderson and Chane Parker.
Parker suffered a foot injury prior to semester break and Henderson was out with an injured hand.
The Panthers led Republic County by as many as 13 points in the first half.
Trailing 30-18 at halftime, the Buffaloes closed the gap to 34-26 when Owen Cole scored inside with just under 4:30 to play in the third quarter.
Republic County would not score again in the final period.
A three-point basket by Peyton Retter started a 22-0 Concordia blitz.
Retter, who finished with 16 points, six assists and three steals, connected on three threes and scored 11 points during the spurt.
Karson Lister came off the bench and knocked down a three.
Jonathan Turner had a three-point play.
Turner led Concordia with 17 points. The 6-7 senior was seven of eight from the field and three of five from the free throw line. He also grabbed five rebounds.
"Jonathan finished well inside," Concordia coach Derek Holmes said.
Retter capped off the quarter by burying a three in the final seconds and drawing a foul. He made the free throw to give Concordia a 56-26 advantage.
With the Panthers leading by 30 points, there was a running clock to start the final period.
Concordia got baskets by Ian Loudermilk, Lewis VanMeter and Turner to push the lead to 62-26.
Republic County was limited to just two points over the final 12-plus minutes of the game.
"I thought we did some good things and we must keep improving daily," Holmes said.
Payton Breese joined Turner and Retter in double figures with 12 points.
VanMeter and Luke Donovan added seven points and six rebounds each.
The Panthers made 23 of 47 field goal attempts for 49 percent and 14 of 20 free throws for 70 percent.
Conner Martin scored 18 of Republic County's 28 points in the game.
Turner scored eight points as Concordia got out to a 14-0 lead in the game.
Republic County went the first 7:40 without scoring before Martin hit a three.
A basket by Turner gave the Panthers a 16-3 cushion.
Breese scored the first two points of the second quarter to push the lead to 18-3.
Seven consecutive points by Martin pulled the Buffaloes within eight points, 18-10.
Baskets by Breese and Luke Donovan put Concordia up 22-10.
Martin hit two free throws, and it was 22-12.
A free throw by Retter and a bucket by Breese made it a 25-12 Panther lead.
Aden Morris made a three for the Buffaloes, but Retter responded with a three of his own.
Concordia led 30-17 when Martin went one of two from the line to make it 30-18 at halftime.
The Buffaloes were trailing 34-22 in the second half when Martin scored on a drive and Cole scored inside to close the gap to 34-26.
A three by Retter then ignited the decisive run by Concordia.
The Panthers travel to Wamego for a North Central Kansas League game on Friday night. It is their third of 11 consecutive games away from home.

CONCORDIA (66)
Lister 1-0-0 3, VanMeter 3-0-2 7, Knox 0-0-1 0, Retter 5-2-0 16, Schroeder 0-0-1 0, Loudermilk 1-0-1 2, Breese 3-6-3 12, Richard 1-0-0 2, Donovan 2-3-3 7, Turner 7-3-0 17. Totals: 23-14-11 66.
REPUBLIC COUNTY (28)
Morris 3-0-3 8, White 0-0-1 0, Martin 6-3-4 18, Schrivner 0-0-1 0, Novak 0-0-4 0, Cole 1-0-4 2. Totals: 11-3-17 28.