Box Score CHANUTE, Kan. – It took overtime for the Neosho County Panthers to get their first conference win of the season, but the Neosho County Panthers knocked off the Labette Cardinals 80-76 to even their conference record at 1-1.
For the first 40 minutes, neither team could separate themselves in a back and forth battle. Regulation saw the Panthers and Cardinals battle through 13 ties and 19 lead changes. The largest lead of regulation came at halftime after the Panthers closed the period on a 10-2 run to take a 37-29 lead to the lockers.
Labette came out and made a 10-2 run of their own to tie the game back less than three minutes into the second half. The Cardinals eventually took the lead at the 15:31 mark, and held on to the lead until Neosho County again tied it up with 8:22 to go.
The final eight minutes of regulation were back and forth as neither team could get a lead of more than one possession. Joe Acuil gave the Panthers a two point lead with under a minute to go, but Labettes Demone Harrison scored 2 of his game high 33 points to tie it back up. The Panthers would get a chance at the last shot in regulation, but were unable to convert.
In overtime the Panthers and Cardinals again traded baskets early on with Harrison and
Brett Frantz trading three pointers to open the frame. Another three by Labette put them on top but Neosho County would battle back to get the lead back for good on a basket from Acuil.
The Panthers entered Wednesday night's game among the nation's leaders in free throw attempts and they would put the game away at the line with a perfect 10 of 10 from the line in overtime. Acuil and
BJ Jenkins each were 4 of 4 from the line down the stretch to give the Panthers the win.
Acuil finished 18 points and 12 rebounds to notch his fifth double-double of the season. He did most of his damage at the line where he was 12 of 14 to go with four blocked shots.
Brett Frantz added 17 points,
Kyler Steadman had 13 and
BJ Jenkins added 11 along with 5 assists in the win.
The Panthers improve to 17-3 overall and even their conference record at 1-1 with the win. Their next action will be Saturday (Jan. 25) evening when they host rival Allen Community College at 7:30.
