Hutchinson, KS- The Neosho County Panthers wrapped up the Hutch Classic on Saturday night with another gritty performance, showing heart and hustle in a 78–61 loss to the nationally ranked Hutchinson Blue Dragons
 
The Panthers came out swinging, shooting 38.9% from the field in the opening quarter and knocking down five three-pointers to take an early lead before Hutchinson rallied late to edge ahead 23–21 after one. Neosho continued to battle through the second, with Jaida Harris and Janae Davis connecting from deep and Maila Tashiro adding a triple off the bench to keep the Panthers within striking distance at halftime, trailing 46–34.
 
Hutchinson extended their lead in the third quarter, but Neosho refused to fold. The Panthers found rhythm again in the fourth, outscoring Hutch 21–10 behind Laynie Winfrey's shooting; she finished with 7 points, including a pair of threes, and Kaozong Yang's confident fourth-quarter stretch with 5 points and two clutch free throws.
 
Azura Clark led the Panthers with 11 points and three assists, shooting 3-for-4 from beyond the arc. Janae Davis followed with 9 points and 5 rebounds, while Harris chipped in 7 points and strong defensive energy. Jayla Wilson and Chloe Parker each added 6 points, with Parker's early threes setting the tone for Neosho's offense
 
Neosho finished with 13 made three-pointers, a testament to their spacing and relentless tempo. The Panthers also pulled down 46 rebounds, including 18 on the offensive end, while forcing 16 steals in another #94FeetOfChaos defensive display.
 
Despite the loss, the Panthers once again showcased their signature grit and full-court pressure that defines The Neosho Way. From the bench energy to the final buzzer, the team's resilience and effort never wavered.

The Lady Panthers will be back in action next week as they travel to Wilburton, Oklahoma, on November 11, to face off with Eastern Oklahoma State. Tip-Off set for 5:30 PM