The Emporia Spartans capitalized on the absence of Great Bend’s all-state player, Ian Premer, to secure a 61-51 victory in a non-league basketball matchup on March 15, 2024. With Premer sidelined, the Spartans exploited their perimeter shooting, outscoring the Panthers 18-6 from beyond the arc.
Great Bend’s standout, Jacob Hall, delivered an impressive performance, recording 24 points despite facing challenges from Emporia’s height advantage. Hall picked up two offensive fouls, contributing to the Panthers’ struggles, which included four total charging fouls. His teammates combined for only 34% shooting from the field, with Daxton Minton adding 10 points to the tally.
Coach Kyle Kriegh acknowledged the competitive spirit of his players but emphasized the need for improved efficiency. “We needed to defend the 3-pointer better and execute at the offensive end,” Kriegh stated. “We proved we have kids who can compete at a high level. Jake (Hall) is a stud, a blue-collar guy.”
Before Premer’s injury, the Panthers averaged 69 points per game. Without his contribution of 23 points per game, they struggled to reach just 51 points. While their free throw shooting improved significantly from 36% to 67%, their three-point shooting remained a major concern, with just 3 of 16 attempts succeeding.
Emporia’s offensive strategy thrived without the physical presence of Premer, who typically commands attention in the paint. Harrison Treic led the Spartans with 19 points, while Terrick Franklin and Rylan Crowell contributed 14 and 12 points, respectively. Crowell’s explosive start, scoring 12 points in the first quarter, helped the Spartans jump to an early lead.
Despite falling behind 9-0, the Panthers rebounded to limit the Spartans to just three field goals in the second quarter, narrowing the gap to 23-22 at halftime. The second half saw Great Bend take a brief lead at 26-23, but Emporia responded decisively, outscoring the Panthers 18-8 in the third quarter to establish a comfortable advantage.
In a parallel matchup, the Emporia girls’ team defeated Great Bend 49-37. Great Bend’s Chayla Prendergast had a standout performance with a career-high 13 points and 12 rebounds, but the Panthers struggled against Emporia’s dominant perimeter shooting, which netted 24 points from beyond the arc.
Emporia’s early lead was bolstered by strong three-point shooting from Jayde Aquirre and Kaylee DeWitt, each contributing crucial baskets. Coach Jade Winter noted the need for his team to improve their performance, stating, “We constantly have to dig ourselves out of holes. Chayla did a great job working inside and getting us rebound baskets.”
Looking ahead, the Panthers will host Pratt for their home opener as they seek to rebound from this challenging matchup.
