The Panther basketball team won both of its games in pool play to reach the championship game of its annual basketball invitational at Pathway Christian School on Saturday. 

The Des Moines Warriors took home the championship trophy, while Pathway senior Jackson Gehman was voted captain of the all-tournament team by the coaches. 

Gehman had 10 points, eight steals and five assists during a 69-30 win over Quad Cities to open pool play on Friday. 

Sophomore Blayde Lybarger scored 17 of his season-high 24 points in the first half to help Pathway build a 44-11 halftime lead in the opener. Lybarger was hitting from all levels as he knocked in three first-half triples, as well as scoring from the high post and low block. 

Tanner Miller scored 11 points and pulled down eight rebounds. Lucas Yutzy finished with eight points and grabbed eight rebounds.  Lybarger pulled down a team high 12 boards.  Isaac Dhooge scored four points, Ryker Miller hit a three, and Logan and Asher Stutzman each had a basket to complete the Panther scoring. 

On Friday, Pathway recognized its seniors Gehman, Miller, Dhooge, and Micah Hochstetler for their achievements and contributions to the basketball program. 

The Panthers defeated Tate on Saturday morning to finish on top of pool B. Blayde Lybarger scored eight of his 17 in the fourth quarter to help Pathway pull away down the stretch for a 54-38 win. 

Lybarger also grabbed a team high 11 boards.  Tanner Miller scored 12 points and Jackson Gehman finished with 10 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals. 

Pathway led 31-20 at the break and extended the lead to 37-20 with four minutes gone by in the third.  Tate ended the period on a 9-0 run to make it a 37-29 score heading into the fourth.  Pathway was able to regain momentum down the stretch to pull out the win. 

Micah Hostetler scored six points and pulled down eight rebounds.  Lucas Yutzy put in five points and Isaac Dhooge finished with four, both baskets coming in the final period.  

In Saturday’s championship game, the Panthers met Des Moines, who defeated Tri-State and Unity in pool A. 

Tanner Miller scored 10 points in the third quarter to help Pathway cut into an early 16-0 deficit. His 3-pointer cut the lead to 28-17 with four minutes left in the third, but the Panthers could get no closer in a 55-26 loss. Miller finished with 10 points and six rebounds. 

"I was so proud of our effort all tournament,” Pathway coach Aaron Gingerich said. ‘I was happy with the way we competed in the third period against Des Moines.  It would have been easy to quit after a cold first half, but I thought the guys stuck with it and made a lot of good things happen in the second half."

After opening the game with a 12-minute scoring drought, Pathway's first basket finally came to the roar of the Panther crowd. The Pathway defense kept the game within reach by holding Des Moines to 19 first half points, trailing 19-4  at the break. 

After going 2-of-26 from the field in the first half Pathway was able to hit 7-of-14 in the third to get the deficit down to 11. The Warriors increased the lead to 42-26 with three minutes left in the fourth and scored the final 13 points to win going away. Blyade Lybarger scored eight points, Micah Hochstetler scored six and Jackson Gehman finished with a basket.

Pathway has a record of 21-8 and will finish the season with a rematch against Des Moines on Friday, February 18.