EARL WATT
• Leader & Times
Great Bend may have set the record for the number of dunks in a single game against the Liberal Redskins.
Liberal had no answer on defense to stop Ian Premer, who scored 30 points and led the Panthers to an 89-42 win over the shorthanded Redskins.
Liberal started three freshmen, a sophomore and a junior against the Panthers in the first game after the holiday break, and the younger Redskins struggled to land shots and get back on defense in transition which led to a number of uncontested dunks and layups for the Panthers.
With no seniors on the line-up Friday, Liberal gave up height, experience and depth, and the Panthers took advantage.
Liberal trailed 25-12 after the first quarter, and by halftime the Panthers built a 39-19 lead. The struggles continued in the second half, and Liberal (2-5) fell 89-42.
“We had some kids who weren’t at practice,” Liberal coach Brandt Rogers said. “Xavier Porras had to have surgery. I get that. Overall our kids worked hard. When you put three freshmen in the starting line-up it doesn’t go well in Class 6A. They got baptism by fire. We really needed one more big guy when they drove the lane and could take away the dunk.”
Fieser led the Redskins with 12 points, but he was missing his senior teammates.
“We don’t know if any of those guys who weren’t there will be back,” Rogers said. “We haven’t heard anything from them all break.”
