By Allen Hamrick
Panther basketball ended their season with a loss against Poca on Monday night by the score of 55 – 60. I will say this – they lack nothing when it comes to fast-paced action. The Panthers gave fans what they paid for, as they always do. They did, however, save one of their best nail biter games of the season for last. Poca has a unique way of making the team they’re playing against get fired up and play beyond their normal style of play. The Dots have a high flying, fast paced, in your face style of basketball and at times look like a college team. This kind of basketball makes any underdog team play that much harder. It was a great game even if the Panthers lost the match up. It wasn’t for a lack of scoring as the Panthers scored 55 points.
The Panthers were down 22-34 going into the half; twelve points are not a game breaker, but the Panthers would have to do some “gittin’ er done.” They got to within three at the end of the 3rd but couldn’t get the points on the board and lost the game. It was a great end of the season game. Michael Foster had a whopping 15 points to lead the Panthers in scoring followed closely by Joel Elliott with 14.
The Panther basketball team’s parachute didn’t open in the Regional game against Buffalo. They came out looking like they would make this matchup with Buffalo a good one and did. However, the wheels started falling off late in the game. The Panthers couldn’t find the net like they did in the first half and lost the game 53-69. Talon Brown was top shot for the Panthers, scoring 17 points followed by Joel Elliott with 10. With this loss, indoor sports have come to a close for CCHS and CCMS.
With basketball and wrestling being over, it can only mean one thing – outdoor sports, spring, warm weather, gardens, fishing, racing, and white-water rafting. The shoals in the mighty Elk River will turn to small jaw heaven and bend the poles of the fisherman who will line the banks. Baseball and softball are gearing up. Panther baseball and Lady Panther fast pitch softball teams are oiling up the mitts and rotator cuffs in preparation for their fun in the sun right along with the Mustangs and Lady Mustangs. Clay County will indeed be the place for spring and summer action, and there will be lots to do to get us out of those wintertime blues.
Not only can you take advantage of the school sports but there is opportunity for hiking, kayaking, fishing, and biking. So, shake the spiders out of those lawn chairs, put batteries in the boom box and clean the mold out of the coolers – you don’t want to miss all the opportunities this county has to offer. No excuses, the great outdoors of Clay County are heating up.
