On Friday night baskets were hard to come by for the visiting Continental Pirates at the Jungle. The Pauling contingent held the Pirates to 7 baskets through the night while putting in 19 themselves. The Panthers controlled the Pirates with a 34-15 advantage on the boards. The Panthers opened the game up with a pair of baskets to take an early 4-0 lead. Mason Rayle hit a 3 for the Pirates to make it a 1 point game Panthers 4-3. A Panther 8 point rally (a basket and two 3s) opened up a 9 point Panther lead. Mason Rayle hit from the outside for the Pirates to make it 12-6 Panthers. The Panthers made a basket to finish their first quarter scoring while the Pirates got a 3 from Monty Rayle. Panthers 14-9 after 1.
The Panthers put in the first 7 points of the second quarter thanks to a pair of baskets and a 3 to take a 21-9 lead. The Pirates would have Monty Rayle hit a pair of free throws to make it a 10 point game. A pair of baskets and a made free throw would push the Panther lead to 15, 26-11. Mason Rayle would make a basket that was followed by a Panther 3 point play and a free throw to finish off the first half. Panthers 30-13 at half.
The Panthers opened up the second half with a basket that was followed by the Pirates getting baskets from Mason Rayle and Jonathon Etter. Panthers 32-17. The Pirates matched a Panther basket with a pair of Jonathon Etter free throws. Panthers 34-19. To close out the third quarter scoring the Panthers would put in four to a Pirate Carson Etter free throw. Panthers 38-20 after 3. It was all Panthers in the fourth as the tripled up the Pirates 4 points form a Jonathon Etter 3 and a Quinn Tegenkamp free throw for a 50-24 final.
The Pirates were led in scoring by Mason Rayle with 10 points. Jonathon Etter scored 7, Monty Rayle 5, Carson Etter and Quinn Tegenkamp 1 each. Mason Rayle made two 3 pointers, Monty Rayle and Jonathon Etter both made 1. The Panthers matched the Pirates four made 3 pointers. The Pirates were 6-13 from the line while the Panthers were 4-11.
The Pirates will travel to Lima Temple Christian on Saturday night.
–Mike Jones, Sportswriter
