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Vikings hand Panthers 50-41 defeat

The Concordia Panthers’ bid to pick up their first win of the season ran afoul against the Smoky Valley Vikings
Concordia was whistled for 25 fouls and sent the Vikings to the free throw line 37 times in its home opener.
Smoky Valley connected on just nine of its first 29 free throw attempts but had Kerington Haxton knock down six straight in the final 1:40 to secure a 50-41 victory Friday night.
The Panthers fall to 0-3 with the loss in their home opener.
Smoky Valley improves to 2-1.
Despite the foul woes, the Panthers cut a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter to just five points, 44-39, when Kendall Reynolds made two free throws with 1:51 on the clock.
With Concordia looking to extend the game by fouling and sending the Vikings to the free throw line, Haxton made six straight charity tosses in a span of 55 seconds to make it a 50-39 game and lock up the win for Smoky Valley.
The Vikings finished just 15 of 37 from the line.
“We made a few mistakes down the stretch, but there were some positives,” Concordia coach Michael Wahlmeier said, “Turnovers, I think were down. We were able to run some sets and do some things we wanted to do.”
Reynolds scored 18 points to lead the way for Concordia.
“Kendall always carries a big load for us, and I was happy with the way she played,” Wahlmeier said.
Karlee Wahlmeier scored eight of Concordia’s first nine points in the game, but was saddled with foul trouble. She finished with 10 points.
“Karlee is the only person who stopped her tonight. She was playing well and basically doing whatever she wanted, and we were doing a great job of looking for her and getting her the ball. And then we have to sit her because she gets herself in foul trouble,” Wahlmeier said.
Haxton paced Smoky Valley with 18 points. Breanna Priddy chipped in 14 points.
Managing just a free throw by Reynolds, the Panthers fell behind 7-1 to start the game.
Six straight points by Wahlmeier tied the game at 7-7.
Smoky Valley led 8-7 at the end of the first quarter, and got a three-point basket by Abby Rose to go up 11-7 nine seconds in the second.
A quick 6-2 spurt gave Concordia its only lead at 13-12 when Terin Rundus scored with 5:28 to play in the first half.
Smoky Valley would score the next seven points to go on top to stay, 19-13.
Wahlmeier picked up her third foul during that stretch.
Concordia would get back within a point, 19-18, and trailed just 22-20 at halftime.
With Wahlmeier on the bench to start the second half, the Vikings went on a 15-7 run to open up a 37-27 cushion.
“We just came out kind of flat, and they took advantage,” Wahlmeier said.
Smoky Valley had a 38-29 advantage heading into the final eight minutes of play.
The Vikings would extend that lead to 44-31.
Reynolds scored six points during an 8-0 surge by Concordia that made it 44-39.
Haxton would then heat up from the free throw line as the Vikings put the game out of reach.
Concordia will open North Central Kansas League play by hosting Marysville on Tuesday night.

SMOKY VALLEY (50)
VanDerWege 0-1-3 1, Brumbaugh 1-1-3 4, Priddy 5-4-5 14, Carlson 0-0-1 0, Haxton 4-7-1 16, Johnson 1-0-1 3, Rose 2-0-1 6, Ryan 1-0-2 2, Bryant 0-1-0 1, Tolle 1-1-2 3. Totals: 15-15-19 50.
CONCORDIA (41)
Bechard 1-0-4 3, Acree 1-0-1 2, Wilson 1-0-5 2, Nordell 0-0-2 0, Reynolds 4-9-4 18, Strait 0-0-1 0, Wahlmeier 5-0-4 10, Rundus 2-2-4 6. Totals: 14-11-35 41.

 

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