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Valentine's Day Heartbreaker
Monarchs beat Panthers 61-60 on last-second free throw
Cayden Scheuerman shoots over TMP defenders.jpg
Cayden Scheuerman shoots over TMP defenders. - photo by Hugo Gonzalez

Panthers lose 61-60 in final seconds

BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com

It was truly a Valentine’s Day Heartbreaker.

The Hays Thomas More Prep Monarchs escaped with a thrilling 61-60 basketball victory over 5A Great Bend, thanks to a last-second foul. Monarch big man Dylan Werth converted a free throw with 0.8 left on the clock for the game-winning point.

Panther Cayden Scheuerman missed a 3-point attempt with a 60-60 tie. The Panther crowd was shocked when Ian Premer was whistled for his fifth foul against Werth on a contested rebound. Werth made the first free throw, but threw the basketball against the backboard without hitting the rim to give the Panthers a chance.

Scheuerman, the Panthers’ starting football quarterback, threw an unbelievable 94-foot pass off the Panthers’ backboard, but no one was able to tip the basketball into the basket.

The Panthers rallied from a 59-56 deficit after the Monarchs converted five free throws. A Tyler Stuhlsatz steal set up Scheuerman for a basket off Braylon Council’s assist. Ian Premer’s driving basket gave the Panthers a 60-59 lead. But Werth forced a 60-60 tie on a free throw.

“We got a good shot at the top of the key,” said Great Bend coach Kyle Kriegh. “We got defensive stops late that gave us a chance. It stinks the way it ended.”

Great Bend (9-8) is projected for a No. 10 seed in the 5A West with games left against Dodge City Friday, Liberal Saturday and Hays next week.

The evenly-matched affair swung back-and-forth through the 32 minutes. The Panthers enjoyed superb balance with Premer (16), sparkplug Tyler Stuhlsatz (12), Maddox Spray (11) and Scheuerman (10) scoring in double figures. As usual, Carter Coombs and Council expertly handed the basketball for quality shots.

Stuhlsatz and Scheuerman gave the Panthers a lift with 10-point second halves.

“We gave it our all. Tyler is a warrior. We say that every game,” Kriegh said. “Carter did a a good job keeping the ball moving on the baseline. Our guys did good.”

The Monarchs’ 6-foot-8 Werth was trouble all night with a 23-point night off 10 of 12 shooting. Luke Rome added 11 points. The Monarchs (16-2) did just enough from the perimeter with four 3-pointers.

Hays TMP 8 19 18 16  — 61

Great Bend 10 20 16 14 – 60 

HAYS-TMP (16-2)–Werth 10-12 3-5 23,  Harris 3-4 2-2 9, Mindrup 1-4 2-4 5, Schumacher 1-6 3-6 6,  Rozean 2-4 2-2 7,  Rome 5-7 1-1 11, Totals 22-37 13-20 61 

GREAT BEND (9-8)–Premer 6-15 4-4 16, Spray 4-6 2-4 11, Scheuerman 4-10 1-1 10, Stuhlsatz 6-10 0-0 12, Coombs 2-8 3-4 7, Hall 1-3 0-0 2, Council 1-3 0-0 2, Totals 24-55 10-13 60

3-pointers–TMP 4-11 (Harris 1-1, Rozean 1-2, Mindrup 1-4, Schumacher 1-4); GB 2-13 (Spray 1-2, Scheuerman 1-5, Hall 0-1, Stuhlsatz 0-1, Coombs 0-2, Premer 0-2)

WESTERN ATHLETIC BOYS

Garden City 6-0 17-1

Hays High 3-2 10-7

Great Bend 3-2 9-8

Dodge City 1-4 5-12

Liberal 0-5 2-15

2-13—Goodland 76, Liberal 50

2-14—Hays TMP 61, Great Bend 60; Garden City 49, Dodge City 45; Hays 60, Abilene 44

2-17—Dodge City at Great Bend; Hays at Garden City

2-18—Great Bend at Liberal

GARDEN CITY (6-0, 17-1)—W Coronado, Colo. 71-43; Lakewood, Colo. 74-38; Palmer Ridge, Colo. 59-45; Coronado, Colo. 83-60; Scott City 55-41; W Wichita Life Prep 57-43; W Wichita East 53-39; W *Great Bend 58-55; W *Liberal 86-59; W *Hays 60-54; Valley Center (W Sunrise 60-50; W Wichita NW 58-41; L Heights 47-60); W Goodland 63-55 (OT); W *Dodge City 66-37; W Guymon, Okla. 57-42; W *Great Bend 56-47; W *Dodge City 49-45; 2-17—*Hays; 2-21—*at Liberal

HAYS HIGH (3-2, 10-7)—W Newton 65-40; L Free State 54-59; W Hugoton 57-56; L Manhattan 44-60; L Junction City 45-47; W Wichita North 58-50;  W *Liberal 60-34; L *Great Bend 47-64; L *Garden City 54-60; Colby (W Goodland 51-33; L Olathe North 28-39; W Colby 55-48); W Scott City 51-38; W *Dodge City 56-33; L McPherson 50-56; W *Liberal 76-36; W Abilene 60-44; 2-17—*at Garden City; 2-21—*at Dodge City; 2-24—*Great Bend 

GREAT BEND (3-2, 9-8)—L Junction City 51-84; L Sterling 50-56; W Conway Springs 73-20; L Wichita Sunrise 54-57; W Larned 60-33; W Emporia 66-65; W *Garden City 55-58; W *Hays 64-47; L Hutchinson 53-69; El Dorado (W Manhattan Home 65-54; W Collegiate 61-66; L Kapaun 50-65); W *Dodge City 57-53; W *Liberal 72-42; W Buhler 66-53; L *Garden City 47-56; L Hays TMP 60-61; 2-17—*Dodge City; 2-18—*at Liberal; 2-24—*at Hays

DODGE CITY (1-4, 5-12)—L McPherson 32-74; L Manhattan 32-59; L Junction City 41-76;  W Woodward, Okla. 73-35; L Wichita Southeast 31-68; W Garden Plain 67-57; W Wichita Trinity 69-41; L Guymon, Okla. 34-39; W *Liberal 73-47; Dodge City (L Derby 34-58; L Carroll 34-58; W Newton 58-56); L *Great Bend 53-57;  W *Garden City 37-66; L *Hays 33-56; L Colby 39-44; L *Garden City 45-49; 2-17—*at Great Bend;  2-21—*Hays; 2-23—*at Liberal

LIBERAL (0-5, 2-15)—W Ulysses 74-60; L Scott City 44-66; W Coronado, Colo. 74-69; L Wichita North 58-62; L Pittsburg Colgan 54-75; L Hugoton 38-75; L *Hays 38-60; L *Garden City 59-86;  L *Dodge City 47-73; Salina (L Abilene 42-64; L Salina South 43-55; L Buhler 48-67); L Hooker, Okla. 43-55; L *Great Bend 42-72; W Guymon, Okla. 48-65; L *Hays 36-76; L Goodland 50-76; 2-18—*Great Bend; 2-21—*Garden City; 2-23—*Dodge City


Oilers lose third-place game to South Gray
SPT_LF_  Coaching timeDSC_47272.jpg
Coach Ryan talking to the oilers in the final game of the 1A DI state basketball championship against South Grey. - photo by Lori Farmer
BY JIM MISUNAS jmisunas@gbtribune.com DODGE CITY — South Gray converted a trio of 3-pointers in the final minute of regulation and outlasted Central Plains 65-56 in overtime for third place in Saturday's 1A Division 1 state basketball tournament. The Rebels were down 49-44 and the Oilers converted 5 of 6 free throws in the final minute of regulation. But South Gray's Dyson Winfrey and Gavin Wahl made uncontested 3-pointers before Gavin Wahl made a tying 3-pointer despite hustling defense by Oiler Aiden Hekele. The Rebels' Gavin Wahl scored the first basket of overtime and South Gray converted 10 of 10 free throws for a 65-56 lead. The game finished with a unique twist after Hekele committed a foul with 14 seconds left in overtime. South Gray's Zachary Hendrickson was assessed a flagrant foul and ejected for shoving Hekele to the ground. After a brief discussion, game officials Ricci Tucker, Marty Steinert and Wyatt Dautel waved off the final four free throws and allowed the Oilers to inbound the basketball. Crites capped a superb sophomore season with 22 points. Hekele scored 15 points. Camden Stiles scored 11 points. The Oilers distributed 16 assists on 19 baskets. Crites dished out six assists South Gray's Gavin Wahl scored 17 points and Moore added 14 points. The Rebels converted 19 of 19 free throws. The intense battle featured 11 lead changes, eight in the first half. Central Plains took control with a 16-5 scoring burst for a 38-29 lead in the third quarter. Stiles, Crites and Hekele scored all 16 points. At that point, the Oilers had executed a near-perfect game plan guided by coach Michael Ryan. But the Rebels responded with a quick 13-4 burst fueled by a trio of 3-pointers for a 42-42 tie. Stiles converted a 3-pointer and Crites scored off a steal for a 49-44 lead. But the Rebels made their trio of 3-pointers for a 53-53 tie after four quarters. The Oilers return four starters and graduate Hekele, Logan Stroede and Ethan Grubb. Two-time state champion Central Plains (18-6) is 11-4 all-time at the state tournament. The Oilers lost 44-34 to eventual state champion Olpe in the 1A semifinals. Central Plains 13 15 12 13 3— 56 South Gray 11 13 13 16 12 — 65 CENTRAL PLAINS (18-6) (FG 3 FT TP)—Crites 8-15 (2-5) 4-4 22, Stiles 5-11 (4-8) 0-0 14, Hekele 4-9 (2-4) 5-6 15, Siemsen 2-6 (0-1) 1-2 5, Peyton Dody 0-1 0-0 0, Daniels 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 19-43 (8-19) 10-12 56 SOUTH GRAY (20-5) (FG 3 FT TP)—Gavin Wahl 4-14 (2-6) 7-7 19, Moore (2-8) 8-8 14, Winfrey 2-3 4-4 10, Briscoe 5-8 0-0 10, Cameron Wahl 3-4 (2-2) 0-0 8, Totals 18-43 (10-25) 19-19 65 Rebounds—CP 22 (Siemsen 9); SG 26 (G. Wahl 7). Assists—CP 16 (Crites 6); SG 13 (Moore 7). Steals—CP 4 (Crites 4); SG 3 (C. Wahl 2). Flagrant foul—Z. Hendrickson 1A DIV. 1 BOYS 3-15—1ST—Olpe 47, South Central 34; 3RD—South Gray 65, Central Plains 56 (OT); SEMIFINALS—Olpe 44, Central Plains 34; South Central 64, South Gray 49; FIRST ROUND—Olpe 57, Little River 53; Central Plains 54, Frankfort 44 (OT); South Central 52, Clifton Clyde 38; South Gray 66, Quinter 47 OILERS STATE (11-4) 2025—Oilers 54, Frankfort 22; Olpe 44, Oilers 34; 3RD—South Gray 65, Oilers 56 2019—Oilers 55, Macksville 30; Oilers 59, Caldwell 41; 1ST—Oilers 40, St. John 28 2018—Oilers 58, Inman 42; Oilers 58, Salina Sacred Heart 36; 1ST—Oilers 47, Pittsburg Colgan 34 2015—Oilers 67, Jackson Heights 42; Oilers 69, Olpe 44; 1ST—St. John 49, Oilers 45 2016—Oilers 77, Lawrence Seabury 56; Salina Sacred Heart 62, Oilers 52; 3RD—Oilers 56, Hill City 25 CLAFLIN STATE (6-12) 2007—Olpe 60, Claflin 44 2006—Claflin 61, Lebo 54; Claflin 70, Brewster 55; 1ST—Macksville 55, Claflin 45 2000—Macksville 67, Claflin 64 1993—Frankfort 72, Claflin 64 1992—Pike Valley 67, Claflin 57 1986—Northern Valley 80, Claflin 55 1985—Highland 60, Claflin 56 1984—Pretty Prairie 59, Claflin 42 1983—Oswego 47, Claflin 45 1980—Garden Plain 79, Claflin 53 1977—Claflin 60, Hutchinson Trinity 58; Lebanon 60, Claflin 58; 3RD—Claflin 68, Mankato 50 1956—Claflin 62, Oswego 52; Claflin 56, Pretty Prairie 48; 1ST—Inman 67, Claflin 66 QUIVIRA HEIGHTS STATE (4-5) 1999—Lebo 69, Quivira Heights 47 1995—Brewster 64, Quivira Heights 67 1989—Spearville 88, Quivira Heights 60 1983—Quivira Heights 55, Inman 50; Thayer 64, Quivira Heights 43; 3RD—Quivira Heights 45, Brewster 40 1917—Bushton 28, Potter 6; Bushton 30, Macksville 8; 1ST—Winfield 23, Bushton 21
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