The Gibraltar boys basketball team struggled to stop Reedsville from scoring Saturday night as it saw its season come to a close with a 71-29 loss.
The Panthers jumped out to a 10-0 lead thanks in part to a pair of 3-pointers from Jack Schwann and the lane-slashing style of Ben Prochnow. The Panthers' defense also gave the Vikings' offense fits, as they made just three shots from the field in the opening period and committed several turnovers. Prochnow scored 18 of his game-high 27 points in the first half to help the Panthers take a 35-14 lead into the locker room.
The second half got off to a slow start as well for the Vikings as the Panthers scored nine of the first 10 points to quickly push their advantage to more than 30. Marco Jauregui and Aaron Brey were able to hit some 3-pointers, but they were canceled out by Arden Strenn's pair of triples as he scored 10 of his 14 points after the break.
Both teams emptied the bench late, allowing fans from both sides to salute their seniors.
Jackson scored nine points to lead the Vikings, with Jauregui adding five points and Brey contributing four. In addition to the 41 combined points from Prochnow and Strenn, Braylon DeCleene and Schwann each added eight points.
While the Panthers advance to next Thursday's sectional final against Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah, the Vikings will say goodbye to seniors Marco and Fernando Jauregui, Aaron Brey, Kayin Jackson, Owen Dannhausen, Mauricio Fernandez and Leo Canudas Casto.
