CONCORDIA, Kan. – The Smoky Valley basketball teams hit the road in non-league action on Friday night against the Concordia Panthers. The Viking girls fell behind early in a 50-16 loss, while the Smoky Valley boys battled but lost 61-52.
Girls-Concordia 50, Smoky Valley 16 – The Panthers jumped out to a 16-0 lead and held a 24-2 advantage after the first quarter. They would stretch their lead to 29-2 at one point early in the second quarter. Concordia held a 34-8 lead at halftime on their way to the 34-point win. Jaylin Roush scored a game-high 16 points for Concordia, with 12 coming in the first half. Avery Kueker added 11 points off the bench, including 3-3 from three-point land. No Vikings finished in double figures as Natalee Brown led the way with four points. Smoky Valley is now 0-3 on the season and will return home for their final two games of the first semester. They welcome Belle Plaine on Monday night and will host Halstead on Friday.
SV – Brown 4, Dudley 2, Eyer 2, Haxton 2, Leis 2, Patrick 2, Whittaker 2
Concordia – Roush 16, Kueker 11, Cash 8, Weaver 7, VanMeter 4, Abitz 2, Trost 2
Boys- Concordia 61, Smoky Valley 52 – In a back-and-forth game, Smoky Valley held a 19-17 lead after the first quarter, but Concordia put together an 18-12 second quarter to take a 35-31 lead at halftime. The Vikings outscored the Panthers 12-9 in the third quarter to get within one. However, the Panthers responded with another big quarter, putting together a 17-9 advantage in the final quarter for the nine-point win. Kristian Ryan had another big game offensively, leading Smoky Valley with a game high 26 points, just two off of the career high 28 he scored in the season opener against Southeast of Saline. Ryan was the only double figure scorer for the Vikings. Concordia had three in double figures, paced by Ayden Krier and Chane Parker with 13 each. Krier connected on four three-point shots as well. After being held scoreless in the first quarter, Ian Loudermilk added 11 points for the Panthers. Smoky Valley fell to 1-2 on the season on the boys side as they move on to face Belle Plaine on Monday in Lindsborg.
SV – Ryan 26, Olson 8, Heitschmidt 7, Pavlovich 4, Burgardt 2, Gengler 2, Reed 2, Anderson 1
Concordia – Krier 13, Parker 13, Loudermilk 11, Richard 7, Irigoyen 6, Knox 5, G. Farha 3, Schroeder 3
