Panthers open season with big win over Eldon

When Mountain Grove’s boys basketball team hosted Eldon in their season opener last week, the contest came just three days after the football team lost in the Class 3 state quarterfinals.
The many football players who are on the Panthers’ squad didn’t seem to let the short changeover in seasons affect them as their defensive efforts and transition basketball led to a big 84-56 victory over the Mustangs.
Kale Gardner and Brody Emery opened the game with 3-pointers before Aden Estep’s free throws gave the Panthers an early 8-0 edge.
Eldon rallied to go up 10-9 before Bret Gardner came off the bench with a pair of 3-pointers to give Mountain Grove a 21-18 edge.
The Panthers opened the second quarter with a 5-0 run with the help of Kale Gardner’s 3-pointer.
Emery scored nine points in the frame as Mountain Grove went into halftime with a 42-31 lead.
Mountain Grove took over the game in the third quarter as their defense held Eldon to just 2-of-16 shooting from the field while forcing seven turnovers. Emery hit a pair of 3-pointers and scored nine points in the frame as the Panthers outscored the Mustangs, 20-6.
Carson Gibson scored five points in the third quarter.
Mountain Grove‘s offense made 10-of-16 shots from the field in the fourth quarter as Kale Gardner had nine points and Estep had six to pull away for the 28-point win.
Mountain Grove made 28-of-61 shots from the field in the victory.
Kale Gardner scored 24 points, seven rebounds and one block and Emery tallied 24 points, six rebounds, three steals and two assists in the Panthers’ win.
Estep had 11 points, nine rebounds, seven steals and four assists; Bret Gardner tallied 10 points; five rebounds and one steal; Eli Golden had seven points, six assists and five rebounds; Brady Anderson added three points, three rebounds and one assist; Peyton Metty added a late 3-pointer; and Gibson had two points, eight rebounds and two assists.
Mountain Grove will compete this week in the Strafford Invitational Dec. 1-6.