By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Entering Friday's rivalry match against Hays, Great Bend had won nine-straight games and moved up to No. 4 in the most recent Class 5A rankings. But it was not because of 3-point shooting. Trailing 27-24 at the half, the Panthers connect on three triples in the third quarter on the way to a 64-52 win.
"It's a huge one for us," said Panther junior Ian Premer. "We had a little revenge we wanted to get and we went out and got it. But it's still just a normal game for us. We have to go and handle business and it just counts for one in the record books. It's a big win for us and we're going to keep the momentum rolling."
Junior Dax Minton connected on the first trey just 35 seconds into the second half. Senior Ben Nicholson added a long-ball less than a minute later and the Panthers never trailed again. Minton hit a second three just over two minutes into the third quarter to cap a quick 9-0 run.
"They made some shots in the first half and we really didn't and kept it within three points," Premer said. "It was a little stagnant. They were playing man but helping off a lot. We came out in the second half and Dax hit some threes that really, really helped - just the points and he's also spreading them out. They can't help us much."
Junior Tavon Stroup added a couple of big baskets in the frame, including one after grabbing an offensive board late in the quarter. Premer added a basket in the final seconds to send the Panthers into the final quarter with a 47-37 lead.
Minton again struck early with a basket just 10 seconds into the fourth. Premer followed with a jam to get the Great Bend faithful on their feet. Hays was able to cut a 16-point deficit in half late in the game before Premer provided the exclamation point with another jam with 15 seconds to play.
In front of more Big 12 football recruits, Premer was a force early on with seven points and five rebounds in the first quarter. Hays still managed a 12-11 lead after eight minutes.
The sides traded leads early in the second quarter. Nicholson and Premer each scored twice for a 9-2 run and a 19-14 Panther lead. Hays stormed back with a 10-1 run to build a 24-20 lead.
Premer, who recently tallied his 1,000th career point and 500th career rebound, finished another big night with 26 points and 11 boards. Minton scored 13 of his 14 points in the second half, and Nicholson finished with 11 points.
Dawson Ruder led Hays with 17 points, followed by 14 points from senior Tiger Johnson, who connected on four threes, and 12 points from senior Johnny Cano.