Kansas City, KS – The Neosho County Lady Panthers battled until the final possession Saturday afternoon but came up just short in a 73-72 overtime loss to Kansas City Kansas Community College.
Neosho (18-11, 8-4) showed resilience all afternoon in a game that featured six ties and six lead changes. After trailing 18-17 at the end of the first quarter, the Panthers stayed within striking distance despite shooting just 30.5% from the field. The Blue Devils pushed their largest lead to 11 midway through the third quarter, but Neosho refused to fold.
The Panthers chipped away in the final minutes of the third, then closed the fourth quarter with poise. A clutch three-pointer by Sophia Mireles and steady free throws down the stretch helped Neosho outscore KCK 15-13 in the fourth to force overtime at 57-57.
In the extra period, Jaida Harris delivered in a big way, knocking down two three-pointers and scoring six of her 13 points in overtime alone. Bauke Graulus added five points in the extra frame as Neosho shot an impressive 45.5% in OT.
Despite the late surge, the Blue Devils edged the Panthers 16-15 in overtime to secure the one-point win.
Graulus led the Panthers with 19 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double effort off the bench. Mireles added 14 points, while Harris finished with 13. Laynie Winfrey contributed 11 points, and Chloe Parker chipped in eight. Neosho dominated the bench scoring battle 37-13 and forced 32 KCK turnovers, converting them into 27 points.
The Panthers also controlled the glass with 55 rebounds, including 20 offensive boards, showcasing their grit and determination throughout the contest.
Though the outcome didn’t go Neosho’s way, the Lady Panthers displayed heart, toughness, and fight to the final buzzer.
