Staff Reports

HIGDON – The Spring Garden Panthers held the high-scoring North Sand Mountain Bison below their scoring average (92.3 points per game) on Wednesday, but they still couldn’t come away with a victory in their Class 2A basketball subregional battle on Wednesday. The Panthers’ first season in 2A ended with an 87-76 setback.

In his final high school basketball game, Weston Kirk sank five 3-pointers and finished with 30 points for the ninth-ranked Panthers (19-11). He also grabbed 13 rebounds, had five steals, dished out a pair of assists and had a blocked shot.

Cooper Austin collected 18 points, including three treys, with six assists and a pair of steals. Chaz Pope posted 11 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and a steal. Luke Welsh added six points, three rebounds and a steal. Ryley Kirk finished with five points.

Luke Maples topped the second-ranked Bison (25-5) with a game-high 32 points. He sank four 3-pointers and connected on 10-of-14 free-throw attempts. Russ Marr managed 30 points, including five treys. He was also 9-of-10 from the free-throw line.

Derek Bearden scored seven points. Lake Bell and Drue Colton both finished with six points. Colton’s points came on a pair of treys.

Spring Garden held a 17-16 lead at the end of the first quarter, but the Bison rallied to take a 36-32 lead at halftime. North Sand Mountain took a 66-53 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.