Facing two different sides of the NCKL standings, the number six-ranked Concordia boys basketball team fell in a brutal battle to number one Rock Creek before destroying Chapman.
Against Chapman, the Panthers won 73-24.
After the game was tied 3-3, the Panthers exploded for 17 straight points to take a 20-3 lead. Chapman made a three to end the quarter as the Panthers led 20-6 after one quarter.
The Panthers were still full throttle in the second quarter, as Chapman tried to get some offense going. A technical foul on the Irish put a fire under the Panthers and neutralized the Irish. The Panthers went on a 14-0 run to close the quarter, as Concordia led 40-13 at halftime.
Things for Concordia would continue to improve for the Panthers, scoring nine points in the first minute of the second half due to the full-court press putting the Irish on ice. The Panthers continued to execute the game plan and led 69-21 entering the fourth.
With a running clock in the fourth quarter, the Panthers scored four points with their reserves and outscored the Irish 4-3, to pick up their first win of 2026.
Against number one-ranked Rock Creek, the Panthers fell 71-64.
The Panthers found themselves in an early duel. With an Ayden Krier layup for the first points of the game and an Ian Loudermilk layup and three-point play, the game was tied 7-7 halfway through the first quarter. Two Loudermilk free throws put the Panthers up two and were the start of a 10-2 run that put the Panthers up 17-9, and they were able to hold onto the lead the rest of the quarter, leading 20-14 after one quarter of play.
Rock Creek opened the second quarter with a 10-2 run of their own to take the lead 24-22, but a Krier three put the Panthers back on top. Then, the Mustangs responded and retook the lead. Both teams closed the quarter fighting for the lead, but with an 8-5 spurt capped by Krier’s three-pointer and a Mustang layup, Concordia led 36-33 at halftime.
A Boone Richard three put the Panthers up six, but a 9-2 Mustang run gave Rock Creek the lead back. Chane Parker scored on an inbound play to retake the lead, followed by another Richard three, to lead 46-42. The Mustangs then scored 10 straight points, partially due to a technical foul on Parker, to take a 52-46 lead. Another 6-0 Panther spurt tied the game at 52, and a basket each made it 54-54 entering the fourth.
The Mustangs went on a 9-2 run to open the quarter to make it a 63-56 game. Another Richard three made it 67-63 Mustang lead with under two minutes to go, but the Panther offense couldn’t get one final breakthrough and fell 71-64.
