Wildcats hang on to defeat Panthers

MINSTER - Parkway came off the ropes a few times Friday night, and while Minster was unable to land a knockout blow, the Wildcats did keep the Panthers at arm's length for a 50-42 Midwest Athletic Conference victory.

Three times Minster opened up double digit leads, but each time Parkway fought its way back into striking distance.

"We stayed in it and gave ourselves a chance," Parkway coach Doug Hughes said. "I just got done talking to the guys. I'm proud of the effort, and that we competed. They're a very difficult match-up. They've got shooters, they've got good guard play, and they got the big inside. They make preparations tough when you're coming over here to play them."

Minster improved to 4-1 in the MAC with the win and 8-6 overall. The Panthers fell to 1-5 and 6-10.

"We knew they would come in here fighting. They're well coached, and they know how to control the pace," Minster coach Michael McClurg said.

Andrew Ketner and Brogan Stephey ended the first quarter with back-to-back treys to give the Wildcats a 13-8 lead.

After Wyatt Carpenter opened the second quarter with a bucket for the Panthers, Minster went on an 8-0 run to open its first double digit lead, 21-10, with 3:18 left in the half.

Parkway closed out the half with a 6-2 run to narrow its deficit to 23-16 at the break.

After being held to a single field goal in the first half, Minster's 6-8 center Cole Albers hit three close-range buckets in the first four minutes of the second half, and Minster again appeared to be on the verge of blowing the game open with a 33-20 lead.

"What ultimately decided the game was the first four possessions of the second half," coach Hughes said. "They scored and got the lead out to 10, 12, 13, whatever it was. We battled back, but never got to a position where we could take the lead."

Trevor Stearns kept the Panthers close with seven of his game-high 20 points coming in the third quarter, pulling the Panthers to within six, but Stephey bombed a trey and Kole Richard hit a pair of free throws to give the Cats a 38-27 edge heading into the fourth quarter.

"I felt like they controlled the pace in the first half, and I thought we were able to speed it up a little in the third quarter and that's how we kind of busted it out," coach McClurg said. "It was a pace battle, they wanted it slow and mucky and we wanted to open it up a little."

A three-pointer by Ethan Pond and a pair of free throws by Stearns pulled the Panthers to within six, 46-40, with 1:42 left to play, but they would get no closer.

Minster didn't exactly slam the door at the free throw line, but the Cats did hit 5 of 12 free throws in the final 1:58 to maintain at least a two-possession lead.

Stearns finished with nine rebounds to go along with his 20 points to pace the Panthers. Albers netted 14 points and grabbed nine rebounds for the Wildcats. Richard was close behind with 13.

Minster travels to Calvary Christian tonight, and then has two road MAC games next week - at Coldwater on Tuesday and at New Bremen on Friday. Parkway hosts Lincolnview tonight and Coldwater next Friday.