Busy stretch starts with 91-52 loss to one of Class A’s best; Zick scores 24 in setback
The Panther boys’ basketball team can only hope their week ends better than it began.
Playing against one of the top teams in Class A Monday, the Panthers dug themselves a 12-0 hole and eventually fell to Hills-Beaver Creek 91-52.
“They’re probably as athletic as a team can be,” TMB coach Ryan Kruse said. “We knew it was going to be tough to make passes through them or over them … they’re tough and they play hard.”
TMB (8-10, 6-5 in the Camden) didn’t get on the scoreboard until Griffin Zick hit a three at the 14:15 mark of the first half. And while the Panthers struggled to put together any semblance of a consistent offense, things came rather easy for the taller, more phsyical Patriots.
H-BC’s fluid offense and back-door cuts led to numerous easy baskets in the paint, as the Patriots would open up a 40-25 lead. They closed the first half with a 13-6 run to lead 53-31 at the break.
“It’s really tough to play against a transition team that’s bigger and faster than you — they know they can rebound with a couple guys,” Kruse said. “A few times, we had guys ready to be back, but we just didn’t do a good job of slowing them down.”
The script stayed the same in the early goings of the second half, as the Patriots scored the first 12 points. The Panthers’ struggles continued on the offensive end, and they didn’t score until a Connor Lanoue basket almost 5 minutes into the half.
As good as the Patriots’ defense was, their offensive was even better. They shot almost 40% from deep and turned the ball over just eight times.
Zick led TMB with 24 points, and Jackson Kruse added nine.
• The Panther B-squad fell 55-34.
Talon Brinkley had 13 points, and Parker Kline added 11. Former Panther Christian Gasca led the Patriots with 15 points.
TMB will play at Minneota on Friday and host Murray County Central in a 3:30 p.m. Saturday matinee.
H-BC 53 38 — 91 TMB 31 21 — 52 H-BC
Bush 7-12 0-0 14, Wallin 1-4 1-2 3, Susie 4-5 4-5 13, B. Metzger 11-18 2-2 26, Kruger 1-1 0-0 3, J. Metzger 6-11 1-1 13, M. Metzger 0-1 0-0 0, Wegener 4-6 1-1 10, Gasca 1-1 0-0 3, Gacake 0-3 0-0 0, Fagerness 0-1 0-0 0, K. Metzger 3-4 0-0 6. Totals: 38-67 6-11 91. Three-pointers: 9-21. Assists: 29. Rebounds: 33. Blocks: 2. Steals: 11. Turnovers: 8.
TMB
Sanders 1-2 0-1 2, Zick 10-20 2-5 24, Carson Lanoue 1-1 0-0 3, Connor Lanoue 2-6 0-0 5, Xiong 1-4 0-0 2, Kruse 3-5 0-0 9, Sanow 1-6 0-0 2, Kline 1-2 0-0 3, Lightfoot 1-2 0-0 2.
Totals: 21-48 2-6 52. Three-pointers: 8-21 (Kruse 3-4, Zick 2-7, Carson Laonue 1-1, Kline 1-2, Connor Lanoune 1-3, Xiong 0-2. Assists: 20 (Connor Lanoue 10, Zick 3, Kruse 2, Sanders, Xiong, Sanow, Kline, Lightfoot). Rebounds: 22 (Connor Lanoue 5, Sanow 5, Lightfoot 2, Kruse 2, Carson Lanoue 2, Sanders 2, Zick 2, Lightfoot 2, Brinkley, Kline).
Steals: 4 (Sanders, Carson Lanoue, Connor Lanoue, Kruse).
