Hosting the number three-ranked Rock Creek Mustangs in the season finale, the Concordia High School boys basketball team pulled off a 59-49 upset to hand the Mustangs their first NCKL loss.
A tight, physical fight opened up the game with both teams trying to vie for the lead. A Mustang and-one would give them a four-point lead, 11-7, before the Panthers tied the game up, 14-all, after one quarter of play.
A Peyton Retter three would give the Panthers the lead to start the second quarter and would spur a short 12-5 run. The Panthers would score four points in the final 30 seconds of the half and would take a 30-21 halftime lead.
Both offenses would start the second half on fire, rapidly scoring on both ends with Rock Creek slowly chipping away at the lead. The Panthers would start to slow down the Mustangs and regain some of their lead back and would keep at least a two possession lead throughout the third quarter. Entering the fourth quarter, the Panthers held a 47-36 lead.
For every Rock Creek attempt to knock the lead down, the Panthers would counter to keep the Mustangs at bay. The lowest the Mustangs would get the lead down would be seven points, which would be short lived. The Panthers would hold on to secure the 59-49 upset.
In what was supposed to be the final home game of the regular season, the Panthers’ boys basketball team hosted NCKL rival Clay Center, with the Panthers picking up the series sweep with a 74-55 win.
The Tigers held control in the first quarter, holding a five-point lead with 34 seconds left in the quarter, and the Panthers were unable to capitalize on free throw opportunities. The Panthers’ offense got good looks in the quarter but couldn’t convert as the Tigers held a 13-9 lead after one quarter.
An 8-0 run by the Panthers and a layup with 6:31 remaining gave them a lead, but back-to-back threes gave the Tigers life, and the lead. Both offenses clashed, fighting to build momentum and unable to pull away from each other, and at halftime the game was tied 27-27.
The battle continued in the third quarter, with physical play keeping the game close. The Panthers retook the lead, 39-37, with 3:53 remaining and would not relinquish the lead. A 12-6 Panther run to close the quarter would give the Panthers all the momentum in the dual, entering the fourth quarter with a 49-43 lead.
A 14-2 Panther run to open the fourth quarter would blow the game open for the home team, and gave the Panthers a very comfortable lead. The Tigers did their best to claw back into the game, but the Panthers offense refused to let the Tigers gain ground and they would go on to upset the number 10-ranked Tigers, 74-55.
