Hutchinson, KS – The Neosho County Panthers opened play at the Hutch Classic with grit and fight but couldn’t overcome a red-hot Cloud County squad, dropping the opener 97–71 inside the Hutchinson Sports Arena
Neosho came out aggressive, forcing turnovers and trading buckets through the first quarter. Chloe Parker knocked down early threes and set the tone offensively as the Panthers trailed just 21–17 after the opening frame.
The balanced Panther lineup again showed its depth; twelve players got on the scoreboard. Parker led the team with 14 points, including three shots from beyond the arc, while Kaozong Yang added 11. Sophia Mireles and Laynie Winfrey each added 5 points, providing key scoring spurts that kept Neosho within striking distance. Jayla Wilson chipped in 7, and Dagmara Kacprazak added 7 off the bench as the Panthers’ second unit poured in 40 points.
Neosho lived up to its #94FeetOfChaos identity, pressing and attacking for 11 steals and 14 points off turnovers. Despite Cloud County’s height advantage and 50 points in the paint, the Panthers hustled to 17 second-chance points and kept their tempo throughout.
Even as Cloud County pulled away late, the Panthers refused to fold, continuing to compete. Their resilience, energy, and unity mirrored The Neosho Way: hard work, togetherness, and fight on every possession.
The Panthers will look to bounce back on Saturday, November 8, when they face host Hutchinson Community College at 5:30 p.m. to close out their run at the Hutch Classic.
