BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com

HAYS — Outside of one possession, Great Bend enjoyed a perfect offensive first quarter against Hays Thomas More Prep. The Panthers led 13-0 and scored on 11 of 12 offensive possessions to roar ahead 25-9 en route to a dominating 68-41 non-league basketball victory.

Ian Premer scored 10 of his game-high 25 points and Jacob Hall converted a pair of 3-pointers for eight of his 12 points in the first quarter. Ben Nicholson worked inside and outside for a 15-point night.

"The guys are working together really well," said Great Bend coach Kyle Kriegh. "They do it every day practice and carry it over to the games. They're moving the basketball really well."

The 6-foot-6 Premer enjoyed a typical night in the paint with 10 of 14 shooting, four slam dunks and a 19-point, 11-rebound night by halftime. Premer's prettiest dunk came after a lengthy bounce pass by point guard Dax Minton.

"Ian is pretty special," Kriegh said. "As a coach, I wouldn't know how to stop him."

The Panthers' pace was efficient with the ball and players moving crisply from point-to-point. The Panthers converted 22 of 38 shots to shoot 58% inside the 3-point line. Great Bend made 4 of 11 from long range.

Ethan Somers converted a pair of free throws as a substitute for Izeah Reed, who was unable to shoot free throws because of a hard fall. Somers' free throws handed the Panthers a 64-34 lead to trigger a running clock with 6:34 left in the fourth quarter.

The Monarchs (5-7) posed an intriguing challenge by converting 9 of 22 shots from 3-point range and 4 of 12 inside the stripe, declining to challenge Premer, Hall and Nicholson inside the paint. Caden Dinkel hit a trio of 3-pointers for nine points. Ty Schmeider added a pair of 3-pointers for six points.

Great Bend's defense never let the Monarchs push the ball upcourt and dominated points in the paint.

"It was a good night, 95% of tonight was good," Kriegh said. "I didn't want them to get comfortable."

No. 4 ranked 5A Great Bend (12-1, 2-0 WAC) entertains perennial WAC powerhouse Hays High (7-6, 2-0) Friday night. 

Great Bend 25 17 18 8 — 68

Hays TMP 9 13 12 7 — 41

GREAT BEND (12-1) (FG 3 FT TP)—Ian Premer 10-14 (0-1) 5-8 25, Jacob Hall 5-8 (2-4) 0-2 12, Nicholson 5-10 (1-3) 4-6 15, Reed 1-3 1-2 4, Minton 2-4 (1-2) 0-0 5, Stroup 2-5 0-0 4, Ethan Somers 0-2 2-2 2, Wondra 0-1 0-0 0, Alec Premer 1-2 0-0 0, Totals 26-49 (4-11) 12-19 68

HAYS TMP (5-7) (FG 3 FT TP)—Dinkel (3-6) 0-0 9, Schmeidler 2-7 (2-6) 2-2 8, Eck 2-7 (2-6) 0-0 6, Seib 2-5 (1-2) 1-2 6, Grant Nehls 2-2 (1-1) 1-2 6, Ian Nehls 2-4 0-0 4, Liles 0-2 2-2 2, 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 13-34 (9-22) 6-8 41