When Mountain Grove welcomed an 18-1 Thayer team last week to the Arena, the Panthers were hoping to stun the Bobcats for a big South Central Association (SCA) Conference victory.
Unfortunately, the No. 4 team in Class 3 used a big run in the first quarter to pull away from the Panthers and cruise to a 67-38 victory.
Mountain Grove did have an 8-4 lead in the first quarter before Thayer scored 13 unanswered points.
The Bobcats led by seven heading into the second quarter where Mountain Grove’s offense scored just four points before halftime on two Tyson Elliott baskets.
Thayer’s offense made 13-of-20 shots from the field, shooting 65% in the first half for a 32-14 lead.
The Panthers opened the third quarter with two quick steals and four points.
Thayer responded by making 8-of-15 shots to go up by 23 points.
From there, Thayer cruised in the fourth quarter to win the game by 29.
Thayer finished the game by making 28-of-45 shots from the field for 62%. Meanwhile, the Panthers’ offense made just 15-of-40 shots or 38%.
Elliott finished the game with 10 points, one steal and one rebound while Bryce Stenzel tallied 10 points, three steals, two rebounds and one assists.
Kaden Bruce had seven points, six assists, three rebounds and two steals; Jace Dowden had eight points, one steal and one assist; Isiah Hellbusch had two points, three rebounds and one steal; Hollen Glenn had one point, one rebound and one assist; Drew Vaughan had two assists; and Gavin Charlton had two rebounds.
