It appeared late in their Consolation semifinals game against Mt. Vernon that the Mountain Grove Panthers would be playing for a trophy at this year’s Blue and Gold Tournament.
In overtime, Tyson Elliott had a steal and picked up an assist with a pass to Kaden Bruce for a Panthers’ three point lead with 2:07 left in the game.
Unfortunately, the Mountaineers ended the session with a 7-0 run to beat the Panthers, 60-56.
In the first quarter, Mt. Vernon led 4-2 before Bryce Stenzel hit back-to-back 3-pointers to put the Panthers in front 10-4.
The lead could have been larger, but the Panthers offense made just 4-of-13 shots from the field in the first quarter.
Stenzel opened the second quarter with his third 3-pointer of the game. Mountain Grove would push their run to 14-0 to go up 16-4 before the Mountaineers managed to cut the lead to six at halftime.
Mt. Vernon opened the third quarter with a 10-0 run to take their first lead of the game.
Bruce hit a big 3-pointer to end the bleeding and Gavin Charlton added a 3-pointer for a 6-0 run.
Down one heading into the fourth quarter, Hollen Glenn provided the Panthers a needed spark off the bench.
He drew one big charge and scored eight points in the fourth, including his two free throws with 14.8 seconds left in the game that sent Mountain Grove into overtime.
The Mountaineers went on to outscore the Panthers, 9-2, in the extra session to win the game.
Mountain Grove did win have the rebounding edge in the loss, 30-23.
Bruce led the Panthers with 14 points, four assists and two steals; Stenzel added 13 points, five rebounds and four assists; Glenn scored 10 points and two rebounds; Jase Dowden had seven points, seven rebounds and two assists; Elliott added six points, two rebounds, two steals and one assist; Charlton had four points, four rebounds and one steal; and Isiah Hellbusch scored two points.
Before the loss, the Panthers needed overtime to knock off Glendale, 60-56.
Both teams struggled offensively as both had three quarters in which they didn’t score in double figures.
Mountain Grove struggled from the perimeter making just 4-of-16 shots from 3-point range. Fortunately, they made 15-of-18 free throws in their four point victory. Their defense also had 2 steals and forced 23 turnovers.
Dowden led Mountain Grove with 13 points and six rebounds; Bruce had 12 points, one assist and one steal; Stenzel added eight points, two rebound and two steals; Charlton had eight points and eight rebounds; while Hellbusch scored two points and one rebound. Elliott added six points, three steals, two rebounds and two assists.
In the opening round, Willard was too much for Mountain Grove in a 65-31 loss. The Panthers shot 23% from the field in the loss and made just 2-of-23 shots from 3-point territory.
Bruce scored 17 points and added three steals and three rebounds. Dowden had eight points, three blocks and three rebounds; Stenzel had three points; Charlton had one point and five rebounds; Drew Vaughan had three assists; Hellbusch had two points and five rebounds; and Elliott had two rebounds.
