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Panthers struggle in second half, tumble to Vikings

LINDSBORG — As much of a struggle as it was on the offensive end of the floor in the second half for the Concordia Panthers, they trailed the Smoky Valley Vikings just 34-33 when Dyelan Reed made two free throws with 5:33 remaining in the game.
That is when Smoky Valley’s Cade Schneider warmed up from three-point range.
Schneider, who had missed on his first seven three-point attempts in game, knocked down three straight during a 14-5 run that pushed the Vikings’ lead to 48-39 with under two minutes remaining.
Concordia could get no closer than seven points after that in suffering a 53-42 loss in its first road game of the season Friday night.
“The Schneider kid is their best shooter from the outside, and it was just a matter of time,” Concordia coach Michael Roe said, “Once he hit the first one then he is going to hit the second and the third.”
The loss drops Concordia to 1-2 heading into the North Central Kansas League opener at Marysville on Tuesday.
Concordia led the game 24-18 at halftime, but couldn’t get untracked offensively in the third quarter.
Smoky Valley (2-1) scored the first four points of the second half to close the gap to 24-22.
A layup by Reed put Concordia up 26-22.
The Panthers would go nearly 10 minutes without a field goal.
“Their defense bothered us a little bit,” Roe said, “We didn’t get the easy looks we got the in the first half.”
Brandt Heble scored for Smoky Valley, and it was a 26-24 game.
Chase Parker hit one of two free throws to give Concordia a 27-24 cushion.
A jumper by Cole Brumbaugh and two free throws by Konrad Peterson gave Smoky Valley its first lead since the first quarter, 28-27.
Reed made two free throws to give Concordia the lead back at 29-28 with 2:23 to play in the third quarter.
Smoky Valley scored the final four points of the period, including a basket by Heble as time ran out, and led 32-29.
A steal and layup by Lane Schrag 22 seconds into the fourth period put the Vikings up 34-29.
Concordia made four of six free throws to get within a point, 34-33, when Reed went two of two from the line.
Schneider then drilled his first three to push the Smoky Valley led to 37-33.
Two free throws by Brumbaugh made it 39-33.
Chas Carlgren scored for Concordia, but Schneider hit another three.
The Panthers would get back within four points, 43-39, when Reed made two free throws.
Schneider connected on another three and Peterson scored inside to give Smoky Valley a 48-39 cushion with 1:45 on the clock.
Concordia was unable to make a final run at the Vikings.
Reed, who hit 9 of 10 free throws, led Concordia with 19 points. he also had 11 rebounds and four assists.
Wyatt Trost scored 10 points for the Panthers.
Concordia was 14 of 41 from the field for 34 percent, and missed on all eight three-point attempts.
Heble paced Smoky Valley with 16 points. Brumbaugh added 11 points.
The Vikings were 17 of 48 from the floor for 35 percent. They were 1 of 15 from three-point range until Schneider made three straight.
Concordia fell behind 5-2 to start the game, but battled back to take a 14-10 lead going into the second quarter.
Two free throws by Heble made it a 14-12 game early in the second period.
The Vikings missed on eight straight field goal attempts as Concordia scored eight unanswered points to grab a 22-12 advantage.
The two teams traded baskets, and the Smoky Valley got a basket by Heble and a follow as time ran out in the half by Brumbaugh to close the gap to 24-16.
With the Panthers finding it hard to score points in the second half, the Vikings battled back for the win.

CONCORDIA (42)
Vignery 0-0-1 0, Trost 3-4-4 10, Owen 0-0-4 0, Carlgren 4-0-5 8, Reed 5-9-1 19, Thomas 0-0-1 0, Parker 2-1-1 5. Totals: 14-14-17 42.
SMOKY VALLEY (53)
Rauchholz 0-0-1 0, Schrag 3-0-2 6, Brumbaugh, 3-4-1 11, Peterson 1-2-2 4, Windholz 2-1-4 5, Heble 4-8-1 16, Schneider 3-0-1 9, Mullen 1-0-3 2. Totals: 17-15-15 53.

 

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