Smyser’s trey gives Monroe City boost in finishing off Liberty in final minutes of regulation

QUINCY — As his teammates moved the ball up the floor, Trey Smyser gravitated to one of his favorite spots on the floor.

“I like shooting on the wing,” he said.

Apparently so. The Monroe City senior guard buried a 3-pointer from the right wing in front of the Panthers’ bench with 49.1 seconds remaining in regulation Saturday afternoon against Liberty in the KHQA/American Family Insurance Superfan Shootout at The Pit.

The 3-pointer gave the Panthers the lead and they salted away a 41-38 victory.

“I was pretty confident,” Smyser said of taking that shot. “My tammates did a great job of getting the ball up the floor. I could tell it was just one more pass away. Once I got it, I just felt confident and let it fly.”

With Monroe City leading 37-33 and less than two minutes remaining, Liberty sophomore Reed Sparrow was fouled on a 3-point attempt and made all three ensuing free throws. After Monroe City’s Wyatt DeGrave missed a 3-pointer, Sparrow scored from the right block and was fouled with 1:20 remaining

HIs free throw rimmed out and a putback attempt was missed, leaving Liberty with a one-point advantage prior to Smyser’s game-winning trey.

“Teams are trying to take away our shooters, but we’re really confident as shooters,” Smyser said.

That was despite the offensive struggles the Panthers experienced, scoring just 14 points over the first 14 minutes of the second half.

“Once we started getting some movement, we got some great looks,” Monroe City coach Brock Edris said. “We just couldn’t throw it in the ocean. Usually we shoot it pretty well. Today we didn’t. So to find a way to win is good.”

Monroe City’s Brent Holland scored 18 points and was named the game MVP, while Sparrow led the Eagles with 19 points.