Panthers Patient

RICK PECK/SPECIAL TO MCDONALD COUNTY PRESS McDonald County's Blake Gravette drives the lane past a pair of St. Mary Colgan defenders for two of his 12 points in the Mustangs' 45-35 loss on Dec. 8 in Pittsburg, Kan.
RICK PECK/SPECIAL TO MCDONALD COUNTY PRESS McDonald County's Blake Gravette drives the lane past a pair of St. Mary Colgan defenders for two of his 12 points in the Mustangs' 45-35 loss on Dec. 8 in Pittsburg, Kan.

The St. Mary's Colgan Panthers used 19 of 28 shooting from the free-throw line to claim a 45-35 decision over the McDonald County Mustangs on Dec. 8 in Pittsburg, despite the Mustangs making two more field goals.

McDonald County made 14 field goals, including four three-pointers, but went to the free-throw line only seven times, making just three. Colgan made just 12 field goals but used a 16-point advantage from the charity stripe to beat the Mustangs.

"We have to do a better job of finishing plays," said coach Kyle Fields. "We aren't getting to the free-throw line enough and we aren't converting when we do get there. We missed two cribs early and, if we don't make those easy shots, we have to get fouled and get to the line."

McDonald County led 4-3 at the end of the first quarter, as a deliberate Panther offense patiently tried to get the ball inside against the Mustang 2-3 zone defense.

Peyton Barton scored the last five points of the first half, the first three coming on a three-pointer and the final two coming on a short jumper from the baseline to beat the halftime buzzer and give McDonald County a 13-12 lead at intermission.

Colgan opened the second half with a 7-0 run to take a 19-13 lead midway through the third quarter, but Cooper Reece hit a short jumper and Barton followed with his second trey of the game to cut the Panther lead to 19-18.

Colgan's Dalton VanBecelaere answered with a three-pointer, but Blake Gravette hit a trey for McDonald County before Reece scored from the block to give the Mustangs a 23-22 lead.

But that was the last time McDonald County led. Colgan closed out the third quarter with four straight points, including two free throws with no time on the clock, to take a 26-23 lead into the fourth quarter.

Gravette tied the game with a three-pointer to open the final period, but Colgan went on a 7-2 run to take a 33-28 lead with 4:06 left.

Barton's basket with 2:39 cut the margin to 34-31, but Colgan hit eight of 10 free throws down the stretch to secure the win.

"I thought we took some steps in the right direction," Fields said. "I thought we dealt with their pressure a little bit better than we have in previous games where we faced run and jumps. We still have to control the ball better. A lot of our turnovers came in the halfcourt after we had beaten their pressure. We still are not making real good decisions in the open court. I think our turnovers were down but, still, to be the team that we want to be, it has to be lower than that. "

Barton and Gravette each finished with 12 points to lead McDonald County. Reece added six points, while Boston Dowd and Drew Landers had two each and Cole DelosSantos had one.

The Panther's Jeremiah Buche led all scorers with 13 points.

"Our defense was better and, honestly, the pace of the game favored us," Fields said. "Our 2-3 zone was a lot better. We are going to continue to play a lot of man-to-man, but we have to have a base defense, and I think our 2-3 is going to be that for us."

Colgan added a 41-29 win in the junior varsity game. Dylan Allison and Cade Smith led McDonald County with six points each, followed by Jon Howard and Koby McAlister with five points each. Cale Adamson had three and Kirby Townsend and Saul Garcia had two each.

McDonald County, 0-5 for the season, is off this week. The Mustangs travel to Shiloh Christian in Springdale, Ark., on Dec. 19 before returning home on Dec. 21 to host Diamond.

Sports on 12/14/2017