Concordia Boys Basketball Pulls Away in Final Minute to Defeat Clay Center
It was a hard-fought contest between the Concordia High School Boys Basketball team and the Clay Center Tigers in North Central Kansas League play on Tuesday, December 19th. Neither team was able to gain more than a slim lead the entire game, but Concordia pulled away with a 50-44 win over the Tigers.
Free-throw shooting in the fourth quarter proved to be the difference. The Panthers finished 6-of-8 from the foul line in the final period, while Clay Center ended up just 1-of-4 from the stripe.
Clay Center had a strong first quarter, jumping out to a 7 point lead at 9-2 to begin the game. Concordia had five players score in the first stanza, ending the quarter on an 12-4 run, capped off by Senior Guard Payton Breese burying a shot from halfcourt as time expired to give the Panthers a one point advantage at 14-13 entering the second frame.
Concordia led by four early in the second quarter, but Clay Center used a 9-2 run to regain the lead. The Tigers connected on two three-pointers and made 4-of-7 from the free-throw line to hold a 23-22 lead at the intermission.
The game would continue to go back-and-forth during the third quarter. Once again, the Panthers had five players involved in the scoring in the third period, with Breese and Senior Guard Lewis VanMeter both pouring in shots from long-range. Concordia captured a 37-33 lead heading to the final eight minutes of action.
The fourth quarter remained tight. A three-pointer by Clay Center Junior Guard Jace Weller tied it up at 43 with 1:17 to play.
On its next possession, Concordia would take the lead for good on a basket in the paint by Senior Center Jonathan Turner to make it 45-43.
Henderson then hit 5-of-6 free throws in the closing minute of the game to seal the victory.
Henderson finished with 12 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists. He was named our Nex-Tech Wireless MVP of the Game.
Breese led Concordia in scoring with 13 points, including three triples.
Turner and Junior Guard Peyton Retter each added 9 points.
VanMeter, in his first start of the season, tallied 5 points and 5 rebounds. He was named the recipient of our H&R Block of the Game.
Weller led the Tigers with 16 points. He was joined in double-figures by Senior Guard Justin Wright who had 10 points.
Concordia bounces back from a home loss to state-ranked Abilene last Friday to improve their overall record to 4-2 on the season and 2-1 in North Central Kansas League play. The Panthers next will play the 1-4 Republic County Buffaloes in Belleville on Tuesday, January 2nd.