KANSAS CITY, KS — The Neosho County Lady Panthers saw their remarkable postseason run come to an end Saturday afternoon as they fell to Johnson County Community College, 82–54, in the Region VI Division II Championship game at Breidenthal Court.
Neosho entered the championship after an emotional semifinal victory over Allen County but faced a tough challenge against an undefeated Johnson County squad that improved to 32-0 on the season.
The Panthers started the game with strong energy and briefly took an early lead after a three-pointer by Bauke Graulus gave Neosho a 7-6 advantage midway through the first quarter. However, Johnson County quickly responded with a scoring run and finished the opening period ahead 26-11.
Despite the early deficit, Neosho continued to battle throughout the second quarter. A three-pointer from Chloe Parker and key plays from Laynie Winfrey helped the Panthers keep fighting, but Johnson County maintained control and took a 39-23 lead into halftime.
Johnson County extended its lead in the third quarter, using strong inside play and transition scoring to push the margin to 64-36 entering the final period.
The Lady Panthers showed resilience in the fourth quarter, matching Johnson County point-for-point in the final frame. Neosho scored 18 points in the period with contributions from several players, including late three-pointers from Chloe Parker , Bauke Graulus , and Kaozong Yang.
Laynie Winfrey led the Panthers with 15 points, knocking down two three-pointers and going 5-6 from the free throw line. Bauke Graulus added 12 points, including three shots from beyond the arc, while Chloe Parker finished with 8 points on two three-pointers.
Off the bench, Lelani Carter provided a spark with 8 points, while Ta’Neah Jones contributed on the boards with 5 rebounds.
While the final score didn’t reflect the heart and determination the Lady Panthers displayed all season, Neosho finishes the year with a 20-12 record and a Region VI runner-up finish, marking a memorable postseason run and a historic appearance in the championship game.
For the players and coaches, the journey, from the first practice to the final buzzer, showcased the resilience, growth, and pride of Panther basketball.
