BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
KINGMAN — Statistically speaking, the 2A state-ranked Sterling Black Bears looked like a sure bet.
Sterling outscored Great Bend by 21-12 on 3-pointers and 12-0 on free throws to build a 51-43 lead after the Panthers gift wrapped two bonus points on Cooper Ohnmacht's technical foul.
The Panthers swung the momentum with a game-shifting 17-4 scoring run, built off six Sterling turnovers amid a 5-minute scoreless streak.
No. 4 ranked 5A Great Bend (2-0) held off Sterling's upset bid 62-61 in Tuesday's Eagle Basketball Classic.
Ian Premer contributed 21/2 steals and Daxton Minton 11/2 steals after Ben Nicholson's steal ignited Sterling's 6-turnover sequence. Premer, Hall and Minton scored baskets before Ohnmacht atoned for his technical with clutch back-to-back baskets, one off Hall's assist on a perfect backdoor cut. Premer capped the 12-0 run with a drive to the basket for a 60-55 lead.
Sterling's Blake Smith and Boston Ekart sliced the lead to 62-61 on 3-pointers sandwiched around Nicholson's breakaway rebound basket. Minton fed Nicholson on a lengthy inbound pass and a second attempt was deflected out of bounds giving Sterling one final chance. Premer blocked Smith's 3-pointer at the final buzzer.
"Big play by Ian at the end. Our guys did a great job of getting after it defensively," said Great Bend coach Kyle Kriegh. "It was a lot of grit and tenacity. Our guys showed what they're truly made of. Our expectations are high."
Premer led the Panthers with a vintage 26-point, 9-rebound effort. Hall muscled inside for 12 points. Ohnmacht and Minton chipped in nine apiece. Sterling's aggressive Smith scored 20 points and Zach Dashiell added nine points.
Crafty Sterling coach Derek Schneider outfoxed the Panthers with a collapsing defense that shut off drives. The Panthers converted 4 of 14 3-pointers.
The Panthers attempted 62 field goals without the benefit on a shooting foul.
"That's hard to believe," Kriegh said. "We knew Sterling is a good basketball program. It's a good win no doubt against a team that's ranked second in 2A."
Sterling 14 18 19 10 — 61
Great Bend 13 17 13 19 — 62
STERLING (1-1) (FG 3 FT TP)—Smith 7-14 (3-8) 3-5 20; Dashiell 4-7 (0-1) 2-3 10; Ekart 4-8 (1-3) 0-0 9; Farney 2-4 5-7 9; Morris 2-4 (1-2) 0-0 5; Newberry 1-4 (1-1) 2-2 5; Isaac (1-1) 0-0 3; Totals 21-42 (7-16) 12-17 61
GREAT BEND (2-0) (FG 3 FT TP)—Ian Premer 12-19 (2-3) 0-0 26; Hall 6-13 0-0 12; Minton 4-4 (1-1) 0-0 9; Ohnmacht 4-15 (1-6) 0-0 9; Reed 2-4 0-0 4; Nicholson 1-5 (0-2) 0-0 2; Somers 0-2 (0-2) 0-0 0, Totals 29-62 (4-14) 0-0 62
Technicals—Great Bend (Hall, Ohnmacht)
KINGMAN BOYS
12-10—Great Bend 62, Sterling 61; Meade 67, Kingman 44
12-12—Haven vs. Meade, 3, 4:30; Great Bend vs. Clearwater, 6, 7:30
12-13—Sterling vs. Clearwater, 3, 4:30; Kingman vs Haven 6, 7:30.
12-14—Kingman Classic 1ST, 3RD, 5TH, 12
