By Allen Hamrick
The Panther basketball team played their home opener against Midland Trail this past week. After losing their opener to Summersville, the Panthers were due a win. Starting his first season as head coach of the Panthers is Justin Holcomb who won coach of the year in 2013 for All Sports in WV after having a winning streak of 58 straight games. Coach Holcomb will bring with him a new look and style to the team. It will take some adjustment time, and only time will tell just how good the team will be under Coach Holcomb. Clay County basketball fans wish him and the team the best.
Looking to start the season off right on their home court, the Panthers were going to have a rough game to get it done. Midland Trail has a fast defense and an acrobatic team that can give you a game if you want it. The Panthers came out with all guns blazing and the game went into turbo action. Both teams were hitting the hoops and were staying pretty even with a slight edge going to Midland Trail who led 11-8 at the end of the first period. Both teams were zeroing in on getting their distance but also missing some good looks at the basket. The boys came out, bellied up to the B-ball Bar and were determined not to take a hit on the chin in front of the home crowd.
In the second period, the Panthers started really getting in the paint and getting points the hard way. Joel Elliott started finding his range from outside the normal limits, dropping threes like a poker game. At the half, it was 25-23 with Midland Trail hanging onto a wishbone lead. The third period saw the Midland Trail defense step up their skirmish skills and put a damper on the bucket making of the Panthers. The Panthers shot the shots but couldn’t get them to fall, and turnovers took the pin out of the grenade for the Panthers in the third. At the end of the third, it was Midland Trail up by seven points at 38-31. The Panthers would have to get busy in the fourth.
Seven points are not hard to overcome, but it would be if they couldn’t stop them from scoring. In the fourth period, the Panthers cranked up the amps and were wearing out the hoop but so was Midland Trail. With minutes ticking off like a time bomb, the Panthers played fast paced basketball but just couldn’t get the break on defense as Midland Trail went on to win the game 54-45. Nobody on the team crossed over into the double digits on scoring, but the top shots were Joel Elliott with nine and Noah Collins with eight.
This game was a strong home opener for the Panthers, but they will have to go to the drawing board before the next game and work out some bugs. Don’t fret, they will get there. The season looks promising for the boys to play well; there are a lot of games left. Next up for the Panthers will be Webster on December 30 where they will be on the road. The next home game will be against Gilmer on January 2, 2025. The Lady Panthers hope to break the ball and chain and get out of their losing streak at home against Poca on December 19th. Go Panthers!!
In other basketball news, the Mustang dynasty continues to dominate the hardwood, stomping all opponents into the polyurethane. Their last wins were big ones as the Lady Mustangs ground South Harrison into burger, beating them 36-10. They will play one more time at the Winter Classic on December 27th. The Mustang boys stomped South Harrison into grape juice Tuesday night beating them 45-28. Their next game will be on December 27th at Valley Middle. Come out and support the teams.
In other sports news, the LKC rankings have came out and congratulations go out to football players Jacoby Nichols, Ayden Brown, Noah Collins, Joel Elliott, Blake Coleman, James Grose, Jaxon Brown and Seth Robinson – they all received the 1st Team All Conference award. Also getting the 2nd team All Conference award was Jaden Morris, Kohan Ramsey and Christian Bryant. Receiving Honorable Mention LKC was Cain Atha and Kendrick Sutphin.
