BASKETBALL: Am-Po boys take down Minco
Dec. 18—MINCO — The Panthers pulled away.
Both Amber-Pocasset and Minco were able to go on scoring runs during Friday's game in Minco, but the Panthers used a lengthy scoring run to deliver the knockout blow. Am-Po went on a 17-0 in the second half, scored 46 second-half points and pulled away for a 75-60 victory over the Bulldogs.
A pair of Am-Po players passed the 20-point mark in the win, combining to score 44 of the team's 75 points.
Lawson Braden scored 21 points in the second and third quarters before finishing the game with 23 points. Avery McComas scored 19 points in the second half and finished the game with 21 points.
Three Am-Po players reached double-digit points in a game that had several players come up with plays to help the Panthers pick up a win. Ian Guthrie added 10 points for the Panthers.
Despite the 15-point margin at the end of the game, the two teams remained close for most of the game. Am-Po only led by four at halftime and fell behind in the third quarter.
Minco's Caiden Brown buried a 3-pointer to put Minco up six in the third quarter, and a Minco basket put the Bulldogs up two before Am-Po went on its scoring run. Ashton Taylor scored to put Minco ahead 46-44, but the leading duo for Am-Po stepped up on the offensive end.
McComas scored to tie the game, and Braden hit one of his five 3-pointers to give Am-Po the lead again. McComas then hit a 3-pointer to give Am-Po a 52-46 lead after three quarters.
After closing the third quarter on an 8-0 run, the Panthers scored the first nine points of the fourth quarter to extend their lead to 15 points. And the Panthers were able to keep Minco from making any sort of run back.
