In their first-ever state basketball tournament apperance, the Royal Valley boys fell down 9-1 at Rock Creek Tuesday night and never recovered or got closer than five points before having their historic season end with a 53-43 loss in the 3A state quarterfinals. The Panthers didn't get a field goal in the first four minutes of the game and ended their season with a 20-4 record.

Rock Creek led 16-8 after one quarter and still maintained that eight point advantage 32-24 at halftime. The Mustangs stretched the led to as may as 14 points at the start of the fourth quarter, before a 10-1 Royal Valley run made it 48-43 in the final three minutes. Yet, a few untimely Panther turnovers and the undersized Rock Creek having a huge rebounding advantage on both ends of the court were enough to take the victory. 

The Mustangs (22-2) got 16 of the game high 22 points from senior Dawson Zenger is the first half while Charlie Killingsworth scored 7 of his 9 points in the second half and Caden Vinduska also had 9 points while Brooks Whaley added 8 and Rock Creek only played their five starters with no substitutions until the closing seconds. They will play Friday in Hutchinson in the semifinals against Galena.  

Royal Valley got 18 points from Nahcs Wahwassuck and Mason Thomas had a big night with four treys to score 15 points, including 9 in the fourth quarter. But Brady Klotz and KJ Miller were both held in check while combining for the other 10 Panthers points in the game. Royal Valley also went just 4-10 at the charity stripe.

Royal Valley started five juniors and brought a sophomore off the bench under first-year Coach Chris Brown, and have a chance to bring everyone back after a combined 41-6 record the last two years that included a pair of Big 7 League Championship and now a taste of their first state tournament in school history.