Junior Mustangs ride Passmore to victory

Midland center Austin Passmore scored a game-high 14 points, including eight in the first quarter, as the Junior Mustangs jumped in front and held off a third quarter surge by Pangburn for a 46-28 win on Tuesday night at Tiger Arena in Pangburn.

Midland led 12-6 after the first quarter and 25-15 at halftime. The Junior Tigers outscored Midland 10-7 in the third quarter to pull within six entering the final period.

Pangburn center Nic Lukas sparked the third quarter comeback with consecutive baskets, including a turnaround jumper from right side followed by a bucket from right block off an assist from guard Ty Gee.

Gee snared a loose ball and drove the floor for a layup as Pangburn suddenly pulled within six, causing Midland to call for timeout with 2:05 left in the third quarter.

After the break in action, Midland scored four straight as forward Heath Fortson notched a bucket inside off an assist from Passmore then forward Seth Milam got a layup off an assist from guard Jason Smith as the Jr. Mustangs beat Pangburn's full-court press for an easy bucket.

Lukas trimmed Pangburn's deficit to 33-25 entering the fourth quarter with a leaner in traffic, but Midland broke the game wide open by opening the final period with an 8-2 spurt, starting with a bucket in the paint from Passmore.

Following Passmore's game-high 14 points for Midland, Milam added seven points and Smith finished with six points, sinking two three-pointers in the second quarter.

Lukas led Pangburn with 10 points, forward Dylan Turley followed with seven points, while Gee added six and guard Tristan Burns finished with five.