Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 The Neosho County Panthers rode their high powered offense to a pair of wins over the weekend at the Best Western Angus Inn/Cougar Booster Classic at Barton Community College. Friday night the Panthers stormed back from a 22 point halftime deficit to knock off host Barton 108-102. Saturday afternoon the Panthers swept the season series with Division II Brown Mackie with a 97-89 victory.
 
The Panthers struggled to get anything going to open the game against Barton Community College. The Cougars opened the game on a 21-2 run only four minutes in to the ball game. Barton's Isaac Williams was nearly unstoppable early on as he scored 15 of the Cougars first 17 points.
 
The Panthers finally found some rhythm offensively midway through the first. Joe Acuil knocked a jumper followed by back to back threes from D'Avonte Garland and Jamie Batish capped an 8-0 to pull the Panthers within 11 at 27-16.
 
Barton held off the Panthers first half charge and slowly began to pull back away when a steal right before the half led to a Barton dunk to push the lead to the largest of the half at 22.
 
After Barton started the game on a huge run to pull away, the Panthers started the second half on a run of their own. They opened the second half on a 23-3 run over the first six minutes to get back within three points at 67-64.
 
The Panthers were deadly from behind the three point line to fuel the run as Jamie Batish and Brett Frantz each knocked down three 3-pointers during the run which was capped by a three from seven footer Joseph Acuil.
 
Barton finally got something going after Acuil's three but the Panthers wouldn't go away. A steal and a layup from BJ Jenkins with 11:13 left in the ball game capped a 31-10 run and gave Neosho their first lead of the game.
 
The final 11 minutes of the ballgame would be close as neither team could pull away. After trailing by 22 points to open the half, the Panthers took a 5 point lead with 5:33 to play only to see Barton come back to take a 3 point lead with 2:30 remaining.
 
The Panthers closed the ballgame on a 10-1 run and BJ Jenkins iced the game with four free throws in the game's final seconds.
 
Jamie Batish scored a season high 28 points to lead the Panthers including 7 of 11 from long range. Brett Frantz scored a career high 23 points off the bench in the win. Kyler Steadman notched his first double-double as a Panther, finishing with 14 points to go with his team high 11 rebounds. BJ Jenkins also finished in double figures with 14 points along with 7 assists. Joseph Acuil rounded out the double digit scorers for Neosho as he had 11 points and 7 rebounds.
 
After a wild come from behind victory Friday night, Saturday's matchup was a tight one from the opening tip. The matchup featured 12 ties and 18 lead changes with many of them coming in the second half.
 
Charles Cooper's basket and free throw with 9:47 to go gave the Panthers the largest lead of the half for either team at five points. Brown Mackie quickly tied the game back up with a 5-0 run of their own before Neosho again regained the lead on a three by Cooper.
 
The Lions again fought back to take one point lead with 6:15 to play. Kyler Steadman answered back with a jumper on the next possession to give the Panthers the lead once again, but this time they would not give it up.
 
Jamie Batish knocked down a three with just over a minute left to give Neosho an eight point lead. The Panthers would then put the game away at the free throw line, making 9 of 10 free throws in the final minute for the 97-89 win.
 
Charles Cooper led six Panthers in double figures with a career high 22 points and 8 rebounds. Joseph Acuil recorded his second double-double of the season and first since November 1, finishing with 13 points and a career high 14 rebounds. Brett Frantz and Kyler Steadman each finished with 11 while Jamie Batish and BJ Jenkins each had 10.
 
Neosho County improves to 9-1 on the season with the win. They will be back in action Wednesday (Dec. 4) when they host Oklahoma Wesleyan JV at 7:30 pm. It will be the final home game of the semester for Neosho County as they close out the semester on the road.