Frontenac boys basketball limited St. Mary’s Colgan to single-digits in each of the first three quarters and then made 13-of-14 free throws in the fourth quarter to earn a 55-49 win Thursday night in CNC League play at the SMC Fieldhouse.

The Panthers scored nine points in the first, eight in the second and seven in the third, trailing 34-24 after three quarters. They scored 25 points in the fourth, but it proved to be too little and too late for Colgan.

The Raiders extended their lead to a dozen twice early in the fourth, but the Panthers used some 3-point shooting from Gabe and Jayden Brown to get the deficit to 50-46 within the final minute.

Raider free-throw shooters Brogan Smith, Kale Coomes and Drake Clayton, though, had it within them to withstand the Panthers’ attempted rally.

“That’s really, really clutch coming down the stretch,” Frontenac senior Jake Wegner said. “I mean, if we don’t hit those free throws, it’s a one- or two-point game and who knows what happens at that point.

“We knew who their players were who would be trying to get points and it’s a good thing we got them in foul trouble early. We came in really focusing in on defense and offense will come with that. We limited their second-chance points and that’s another reason we got the win tonight.”

Coomes led Frontenac with 15, Wegner added 11 and Luke Sneed scored nine points.

Jayden Brown and Gabe Brown finished with 16 and nine points, respectively, to pace the Panthers.

The Raiders improved their overall record to 8-9 and rebounded nicely from their 49-45 loss Tuesday at home against Galena. They are now 6-2 in CNC play entering Friday’s home game with Baxter Springs; Frontenac defeated the Lions 70-64 back on Jan. 13.

The Panthers dropped to 12-6 and took their first loss in league play after starting their CNC slate 8-0. Colgan returned home Friday night with Galena; Colgan won 61-46 over Galena their first meeting Jan. 13.

FRONTENAC (55) — Brogan Smith 7, Kale Coomes 15, Drake Clayton 5, Gunner Horyna 3, Jake Murphy 2, Luke Sneed 9, Jake Wegner 11, Jake Martinous 3.

ST. MARY’S COLGAN (49) — Brock Radell 3, Brady Crossland 6, Will Schremmer 6, Brady Bettega 7, Jaeden Beltran 2, Gabe Brown 9, Jayden Brown 16.

Frontenac 13 14 7 21 — 55

Colgan 9 8 7 25 — 49

3-point goals: Clayton, Martinous, Coomes, Radell, J. Brown 3, Bettega, G. Brown 2.

This sports reporting is made possible, in part, by the Support Local Journalism Project Fund. Learn more at: southeastkansas.org/fund/support-local-journalism-project-fund/