CHANUTE, KS - The Neosho Panthers welcomed the #9 Barton Cougars to the Panther gymnasium for a Monday night conference home game. After a losing in overtime to the #4 Hutch Blue Dragons just six nights prior the Panthers Jumped out to an early lead looking to have put the last loss behind them.
"This is just a typical night in the Jayhawk conference…you must be ready to play every night." Head Coach
Jeremy Coombs Said. "We knew Barton would be a hand full."
The Panthers would jump out to an early lead outscoring the Cougars by 17 points, but the Cougars mad a late run to cut the Panther lead to just 13 at the midway point.
"I thought we played our best half of the year." Coombs Said. "We moved the ball offensively, took great shots and really got after it on the defensive end."
But unfortunately, it was a tale of two halves as the Cougars pretty much dominated the second half and cut the Panther lead to just 6 with 2:20 to play. Eventually the Cougar tied the game but the Cougars Leondre Washington would grab an offensive rebound and score to beat the clock and force the Panthers into its second overtime in two games.
Overtime ended up going back and forth and would look as though whoever had the ball last would win. A that is exactly what happened as the Panthers leading but 2 missed a free throw with just 6.9 seconds left setting up Diovonte Caldwell of Barton would rebound the missed free throw and dribble to the other end where he hit the game winning three with just .8 seconds on the clock. The Panthers would have one last desperation toss butt ended up losing 86-85.
Panthers had five players reach double digit scoring. Tolefree 19, McMiller 17, Fisher 16, Reliford and Yang added 11.
Panthers will be back in action this weekend as they will travel north to Johnson County Community College for a two-game classic before heading home for the Christmas break. Panthers will face Highland Saturday at 2pm and Johnson County Sunday at 4pm.
Next home game will be January 5th as the Beavers of Pratt Community College come to Chanute.
