Box Score The Neosho County Panthers are off to their best start since the 2004-2005 season when they started 7-6. Saturday night the Panthers looked to build off their start when they hosted Independence to open Jayhawk Conference play.
 
The Pirates picked 2^nd by the coaches in their preseason poll and opened the season ranked #19 in the NJCAA. Independence has struggled to replace 80% of their scoring from last season and entered the game with the Panthers at 4-7 overall.
 
For most of the opening half, both teams struggled to find a rhythm offensively as the Panthers shot only 17% for the game while the Pirates were held to 29%. The teams headed to the locker room with the Panthers trailing 21-18.
 
The Panthers finally got things clicking offensively right away to start the second half and went on a 12-4 run to take the lead at 30-25. Once the Panthers regained the lead, the would not look back and extend their lead to as many as nine points with just under 6 minutes to play at 41-32. The Pirates would go on a 7-0 run capped by a three from Kelby McGrath to get them back within 2 with less than 3 minutes to play.
 
Neosho County would stop the Pirate run and extend the lead back out to seven before a harmless three pointer at the buzzer made the final score 48-44 in favor of the Panthers. Alexis Hafenstein led the Panthers with 10 points to go with 6 rebounds and 3 assists. Brandae Carroll added 9 points and 7 rebounds in the win.
 
The win is the Panthers first over Independence in more than 10 years and helps them improve to 5-8 on the season and 1-0 overall. The Panthers will be back in action Wednesday (Jan. 9) when they travel to Fort Scott to take on the Grayhounds. Tip off for the Jayhawk Conference matchup will be at 5:30.