Wednesday, March 19, 2025
MCPHERSON — Facing off with the defending 4A state champion, number two-ranked McPherson, in its own house, the Concordia High School boys basketball team suffered its final defeat, losing 65-48.
The first quarter would start slowly for both offenses. The Panthers struck first but the Bullpups tied the game before taking the lead with 5:36 remaining. The Panthers would never retake the lead. McPherson would utilize turnovers and quick strikes at the basket to keep the Panthers at bay early. The Bullpups would lead 16-10 after one quarter.
The second quarter was where McPherson started to pull away. The Bullpups expanded their lead to double digits with 5:26 remaining in the quarter, and continued to find success near the basket. The Concordia Panthers found themselves down 37-22 entering halftime after being outscored 21-12 for the quarter.
Things would start to improve for the Panthers in the third quarter. After a slow start, the Panther offense started to find its groove. The Panthers outscored the Bullpups 17-12 for the quarter, and found success from behind the arc. With a midrange bucket at the buzzer and eight minutes to play, the Panthers entered the fourth down 49-39.
With 6:25 left in the game, senior leader Peyton Retter fouled out. The Panthers would get the lead down to eight, but the Bullpups would ice the game with a 15-6 run to close the game and punch their ticket to the state championship and end the Panther’s season with the 65-48 loss.
The Panthers end their season with a 14-8 record.
Boone Richard had 15 points and two steals.
Ayden Krier had nine points, three rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
Retter had eight points, two rebounds, and two steals.
“This has been a season of streaks,” said head coach Shane Traughber. “We won our first six, lost four in a row, won five straight, lost three, then won our final two against highly-ranked teams and our first playoff game. This final game was similar in that way. We got off to a good start, but then they built a solid lead. We fought back in the third and early fourth and cut the lead to eight points, seeming to have all the momentum, but then we had a couple key players foul out.
“Overall, I’m very proud of our team this season. They bought into a new coach and system, they fought through a lot of adversity, and worked to get better every day as players and as young men.”
Hosting Augusta in round one of 4A Substate, the Concordia boys basketball team delivered the Orioles a 67-39 beatdown.
The Panthers struck first with back-to-back threes to take a quick 6-0 lead. It wouldn’t be until 5:30 was left in the first quarter that Augusta got on the board. Numerous Panther mistakes would cool off the offense as the Orioles made it a one-point game. A layup with 1:17 left finally got the Panthers a field goal make, and spurred an 8-0 run to close the quarter, giving them a 17-5 lead.
Continuing the run in the second quarter with an 8-0 run before the Orioles finally started to develop an offense, the Panthers got up to a 27-13 lead. The Orioles would knock the lead down to single digits, 27-20, thanks to a 15-4 run. A quick 7-0 run would give the Panthers a 34-22 lead entering halftime.
The Panthers would keep the big lead for the rest of the game, and expanded it to 18. With 45 seconds remaining, the Panthers hit a three to push the lead to 22 points, 52-30, and another Panther three with seven seconds left pushed the lead to 55-33 entering the fourth quarter.
Capping off the spectacular game, the Panthers held Augusta to just six points in the fourth quarter. With 4:44 remaining, the reserves started to come in, getting playoff experience on the way to the 67-39 victory.
Peyton Retter had 21 points, five assists, four steals, and two rebounds.
Isaias Irigoyen had 13 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
Boone Richard had 12 points, five rebounds, two steals, and two blocks.
