By Allen Hamrick
The Panthers had a tough time on the court this past week at the Night of Champions in Glenville. The boys play as hard as a team can and every game is all out, fast and furious, and the team hammers the game down their opponent’s throat. However, as hard as they play, you have to score. The basket seemed like no man’s land at critical points of the game, and mistakes in a game of speed and motion will kill your chance of winning. The Panthers went up against Williamstown for the LKC Championship. This was going to be a game that would set the Panthers head and shoulders above the competition, but it was one of those games that made a person dig their fingernails in their head and start scratching.
Williamstown was no slouch team, did their homework on the Panthers and managed a defense that put the lights out for the Panther shooting percentage. It wasn’t that the Panthers didn’t have shots at the basket, but every one of them seemed like they were under stress. The number one Williamstown also had their problems with the Panther defense and didn’t get to score their regular buckets. However, it is who can break the defense and score the most that wins the game. Neither team had a great advantage through the game; in the first period the score stood at 11-15 then it was Williamstown taking the lead going into the half as it stood 20-27. Not a huge lead and definitely one that a team can come back from.
Once into the third period, the Panthers just couldn’t seem to draw a bead on the rim as their usual big scoring period just didn’t come to pass. They had a great shooting 4th period, scoring 16 points, but it was too late. The Panthers lost the game by the score of 44-55, not a huge amount considering who they were playing. There isn’t a team out there that, when the Panthers are on their game, can match them board for board. Top scorer was Curtis Litton with 14 followed by Grant Krajeski with 12. The Panthers will move into Sectional play on Friday night at home against the winner of the South Harrison and Braxton game with game time at 7 PM. The Panthers stand a great chance at getting to the big dance in Charleston if they can exterminate the bugs on their shooting. Come out and support the Panthers.