WICHITA, Kan.—
The Independent Panthers boys’ basketball team pulled out a last-second 68-66 win against league rival Douglass at home on Tuesday. This was the Panthers second win against the Bulldogs this season, after dropping their season opener at Douglass. After trailing the entire first half, partly due to the number of three-point shots hit by the Bulldogs, the Panthers were able to mount a comeback late in the fourth quarter.
With the score tied at 65 all with fifteen seconds left, senior captain Matt Kaufman grabbed an offensive rebound and put back the shot to take a 67-65 lead. Each side then made one free throw for the final score.
“Defensively, we just didn’t play that well [in the first half],” Kaufman said. “We gave up 41 points in the first half, which is more than we give up in some games. We weren’t too worried, though. We knew we could make defensive stops and control the ball in the second half and come back.”
Independent is now 9-5 on the season and tied with Conway Springs for first place in the Central Plains League. The Panthers will look to keep their undefeated record in league play next Friday, when they travel to their cross town rival Wichita Trinity’s home court.
“We’ve got to start better, come out with intensity, and set the tone defensively,” said Kaufman.
