Panthers get sectional win at Bryan before closing season with loss at Bellevue

Maumee's Ben Kubicz / Pride of the Panthers

By JEREMY SCHNEIDER

IMA SPORTS

The Maumee boys basketball team saved one of its biggest highlights of the season for the next-to-last game.

Everything clicked together for the Panthers in a 59-54 win over host Bryan in a Division IV sectional semifinal last week. Even though Maumee went on to lose to No. 2-seed Bellevue, 52-36, in the final later in the week, it didn’t diminish what that win meant to the program.

“Given that we have not won many tournament games in the past 25 years, this was a huge win for our program,” Maumee coach T.J. Gillespie said. “Putting in extra work has been a focal point and message for us all year, and I believe it will translate to the offseason. I think winning that game brought the entire vision together and gives us all high optimism for the future.”

The Panthers got off to a hot start against Bryan, leading 28-22 at halftime. They held on through a Golden Bears run in the second half to secure the win.

Ben Kubicz led a complete team effort with 15 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals. Eli Dodson also reached double figures with 10 points with two 3-pointers, and Will Kubicz added eight points and five boards.

Down low, Abram Sutherland had nine points and three rebounds, and Mike Kiss had eight points and four boards. They combined to shoot 6-of-10 from the field and 5-of-5 from the free throw line.

For the game, Maumee hit 48 percent of its 2-pointers and went 14-of-14 from the foul line.

Two nights later at Bellevue, the Panthers put up a great fight in three of the four quarters; they trailed in scoring 35-32 in the first, second and fourth quarters. In the third quarter, though, Bellevue held a 17-4 scoring edge.

“We definitely struggled to put four quarters together this year,” Gillespie said. “I believe we are that close to being a really good team. As long as we learn from this year, put in extra work and really focus on execution, we will be better and finish games.”

Will Kubicz had 15 points with three 3-pointers to lead Maumee, along with four rebounds. Ben Kubicz added seven points, four assists and three rebounds, Dodson had five points and four boards while Kiss had four points and seven boards.

While the loss to Bellevue was the last game for Kiss, Carson Graetz and Parker Richardson, the Panthers (6-17) return a core of the Kubicz twins, Dodson and Sutherland for next season.

“Those guys impacted the game at a high level,” Gillespie said of the returning players. “They were huge for us this year, along with our seniors. I wish we returned everyone because this is such a great group. With that being said, I look forward to having those underclassmen back. They have gained valuable experience that we can build on for next year.”

The players weren’t the only ones learning and growing this season. Gillespie said his first season at Maumee was valuable in his growth as a coach.

“The biggest lesson for us as a team is, don't skip steps. Every step is important,” he said.

Photo courtesy of Pride of the Panthers

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