Box Score Photo Gallery

CHANUTE, Kan. – The high scoring Neosho County Panthers were held to nearly 30 points below their season average as they dropped their Jayhawk Conference opener 85-79 to Independence Community College.
 
The Panthers and Pirates traded baskets for the first 8 minutes of the ball game before either team could open a two possession lead. Brett Frantz knocked down a three to give the Panthers a four point lead.
 
Joseph Acuil's dunk with 8:12 left in the first gave the Panthers their largest lead of the half at 8. Independence would close the half on a 20-5 run to take a 42-35 lead to the lockers at halftime.
 
The Panthers would open the second half on a 9-0 to regain the lead after a jumper from Charles Cooper with 16:12 to go. The game would once again be back and forth for much of the second half before Independence opened a 7 point lead with just over 2 minutes to play.
 
Neosho County would get it back to a one possession game after a made free throw by Kyler Steadman made it 82-79 with :34 seconds remaining, but the Pirates would ice the game at the line.
 
Brett Frantz led four Panthers in double figures, finishing with 16 points in the contest. Deshawn Terrell, BJ Jenkins, and Joseph Acuil each scored 13 for the Panthers in the loss.
 
Neosho County drops to 16-3 on the season and 0-1 in conference play with the loss. They will have a week to regroup before they host Labette Community College on January 22 on "Back in Black"/Academic Awards night. The first 100 fans and 50 students will receive a free "Back in Black" Neosho County Athletics t-shirt, and fans are encouraged to wear black to the game.