Panthers pull away from Buffaloes, 50-35

BELLEVILLE — Through the first two games of the season the Concordia Panthers have been a second-half team.
After battling back from 10 points down at halftime to pick up a win over Beloit in the season opener last Friday night, Concordia trailed Republic County 20-19 at halftime on Tuesday.
The Panthers doubled up the Buffaloes 30-15 over the final two quarters to post a 50-35 victory and improve to 2-0.
Concordia outscored Republic County 19-9 in the third quarter to turn the one-point deficit into a 38-29  advantage.
The Buffaloes got as close as five points in the fourth period.
Concordia shut out Republic County over the final five minutes and pulled away to the win.
“We are closing game. We are making our free throws, getting rebounds. We are not turning the ball over and we are getting stops. So that is definitely a good sign for us, finishing games strong,” Concordia coach Derek Holmes said.
With Republic County (2-1) leading 20-19 to start the second half, the two teams exchanged the lead four times over the first 2:45.
The Buffaloes led 25-23 when Brody Boyer connected on a three-point shot.
Boyer, who was averaging seven points through the first two games, hit four threes on his way to scoring 16 points.
Concordia got two free throws by Aceyn Cash and five straight points by Cav Carlgren to go on top to stay, 30-25, with 3:25 to play in the third quarter.
Blake Aurand scored for Republic County, but the Panthers answered with a three by Payton Breese.
Aurand scored again for the Buffaloes.
Carlgren hit a three and then made a layup with time running out in the quarter to put Concordia up 38-29.
“We got some turnovers from our defense and got out in transition and Cav hit a couple of big threes in that stretch,” Holmes said.
Carlgren, who had 30 points and 19 rebounds in the win over Beloit, finished with 23 points and nine rebounds. He was 7 of 13 from the field and five of six from the free throw line.
A three by Carter White early in the fourth quarter got Republic County to within six points.
Joey Henderson scored for Concordia, but Boyer buried a three to make it 40-35 with five minutes to play.
The Buffaloes would not score again.
“We guarded well. And the other thing we did well is we didn't give them many second chances. On the defensive end, we rebounded the ball well,” Holmes said.
The Panthers had just one field goal over the final five minutes of the game, but knocked down 8 of 12 free throws to pull away to a second straight win.
Carlgren was the lone Panther to score in double figures.
Cash finished with nine points and Tyler Hobrock added eight points.
Henderson had six points to go with six steals.
Concordia shot 36 percent (16 of 45) from the field and 75 percent (12 of 16) from the line.
Aurand joined Boyer in double figures for Republic County with 10 points.
Concordia jumped out to a 10-2 lead in the first 5:40 of the game.
Consecutive baskets by Republic County made it 10-6.
Cash connected on a three as time expired in the first quarter, and the Panthers were up 13-6.
Carlgren scored the first two points of the second period to make it a 15-6 game.
Concordia would manage just four more points in the quarter.
“We missed probably three layups in the second quarter and we didn't shoot the ball as well as we have been,” Holmes said.
Trailing 17-9, the Buffaloes finished off the first half with an 11-2 run to take the 20-19 lead.
The Panthers, for a second straight game, controlled the second half to get the win.
“A 15-point win in that environment on the road is a solid win,” Holmes said.
After opening the season with two road games, the Panthers will play three straight games at home starting with a matchup with Smoky Valley on Friday night.
“We are excited about it. Three home games in a row,” Holmes said.

CONCORDIA (50)
Henderson 2-2-1 6, Carlgren 8-5-4 23, Garcia 0-0-1 0, Cash 2-4-2 9, Breese 1-1-2 4, Hobrock 4-0-1 8. Totals: 17-12-11 50.
REPUBLIC COUNTY (35)
Siemsen 0-0-2 0, Lewellyn 0-0-2 0, Boyer 6-0-5 16, White 1-0-2 3, Bates 2-0-2 4, Svoboda 1-0-0 2, Aurand 5-0-1 10. Totals: 10-0-14 35.