Box Score CHANUTE, Kan. – It had been nine years since the Neosho Panthers advanced past the first round of the Region VI Playoffs. Kyler Steadman scored a career high 24 points as Neosho topped Garden City 74-59 to punch their ticket to Wichita for the Region VI Quarterfinals for the first time since 2005.
 
The Panthers entered their first round matchup with Garden City in the midst of a season long 3 game losing streak. For the first time in over a month, the Panthers jumped out to an early lead after starting slowly in their last eight games.
 
Deshawn Terrell knocked down a three right before the first half media timeout to give the Panthers a 23-12 lead. The Broncbusters began to chip away at the Panther lead and eventually cut it to four as the Neosho led 35-31 at the half.
 
Both teams would struggle to score in the early minutes of the second half. Garden would eventually tie the game at 48 on a three with 10 minutes to go. The Panthers would outscore Garden City 26-11 over the final 10 minutes to secure their first playoff win in nine years.
 
Kyler Steadman scored a career high 24 points to lead the Panthers while also grabbing nine rebounds. Steadman also converted 17 of 19 trips to the free throw line on a night that the Panthers tied a season high with 35 made free throws while shooting a season best .875 (35-40) from the line. Charles Cooper added 19 points and 9 rebounds while BJ Jenkins finished with 12 points.
 
The Panthers will return to Wichita for the Quarterfinals of the Region VI playoffs for the first time since 2005 when they fell to Coffeyville in the Region VI Championship. Neosho will play the No. 1 seed from the west Seward County Thursday (Mar. 6) at 7pm in Koch Arena on the campus of Wichita State.