The Exira-EHK Spartans fell to the Logan-Magnolia Panthers by a score of 58-45 on Friday night. Despite great efforts in the second half by the Spartans, the Panthers’ were able to stop any comeback attempts. Cale Cunard of Logan-Magnolia finished with a game high 23 points and hit multiple free throws at the end of the 4th quarter to seal the Panthers victory. It was a close matchup for most of the game but Logan-Magnolia pulled away at the end and will head to the 2nd Round.

In the first half, the Panthers controlled much of the time of possession and seemed in control of the offensive side. The Spartans were able to claw back near the end of the half but still trailed by 7. They ran the offense nicely through leading scorer Austin Rasmussen, but it seemed like the shots weren’t falling yet.

In the third quarter, the three point shots started to fall and it felt like Extra-EHK was one good run from making the game very interesting. The ball movement was working nicely as well. The Spartans did a good job of driving into the paint and finding a wide open shooter in the corner. Logan-Magnolia was just playing more physical and kept getting inside for easy buckets and led going into the 4th quarter.

In the 4th, it looked like the Panthers physicality under the basket became too much for the Spartans as the quarter went on. Cale Cunard finished with a game high for either side with 23 points. Every time the Spartans got a little life, Cunard would be wide open on the other end for a layup. Austin Rasmussen started hitting a few threes for the Spartans, but it was too little too late. Logan-Magnolia defeated Extra-EHK in the preliminary round of the Class 1A Region 8 tournament by a score of 58-45.