Lady Panthers open with win
It was a tale of two halves for the Panther Valley girl's basketball team Monday night. Fortunately, for the Lady Panthers the second half was much better than the first, including a stellar third quarter effort by PV.
Panther Valley used the third to turn around their evening holding Weatherly to just seven points in the period on its way to a 55-53 win over the host Wreckers.
The Lady Panthers got off to a shaky start in the opening quarter turning the ball over 11 times in the frame. The Wreckers full-court zone press gave PV fits throughout the second as well, and with the Lady Panthers two low post players in foul trouble in Trayvonda Rice and Brittany Cunfer the Wreckers took a 33-28 lead into the half.
The turnover problems that hurt Panther Valley in the first half came around to then hurt the Wreckers in the second. PV switched to an up-tempo style of defense in the third quarter where they outscored the Wreckers 18-7 in the period.
"These girls never gave up tonight," said Panther Valley Head Coach Josh Wank. "I can't say enough about our girl's defensive effort in the third quarter. They really stepped it up in the third and fourth and got a good road win in a tough place to play."
Weatherly still kept things close until the very end, even with their turnover misfortunes in the second half. The Wreckers three-point threat Alicia Panzarella hit two huge shots from long distance in the waning moments of the game to bring Weatherly within two with 15 seconds remaining. The Lady Panthers then turned the ball over on their ensuing possession. The Wreckers had a shot to score for the win, but PV guard Madison Blasko made a great defensive play on the wing to lock things up for Panther Valley.
Panther Valley's down low double-threat of Rice and Cunfer combined for 25 points on the night, with 17 of them coming in the second half. Guard Abby Whildin had a solid outing as well for PV scoring 14 in a winning effort.
Tracy Galada led the Wreckers with 14, Panzarella added 11, and Dominique Adamczyk chipped in with 11.
Panther Valley made it a sweep with a 32-27 victory in the junior varsity game.
PANTHER VALLEY
Whildin 5-3-5-14, Blasko 0-0-0-0, Kehrli 0-0-0-0, Thomas 1-3-4-5, Rice 5-0-0-10, Markovich 1-2-2-4, Cullen 0-1-2-1, Cunfer 6-3-6-15, Zlock 3-0-0-6. TOTALS: 21-12-19-55
WEATHERLY
Galada 5-4-5-14, Panzarella 4-0-2-11, J. Doughtery 2-3-5-7, Heister 2-2-4-6, Boyarski 0-1-2-1, E. Doughtery 1-1-2-3, Adamczyk 3-4-4-11, Bazarre 0-0-0-0, Polchin 0-0-0-0 TOTALS: 17-15-24-53
Panther Vy. 11 17 18 9 - 55
Weatherly 18 15 7 13 - 53
Three-pointers: PV- Whildin 1. Weatherly- Panzarella 3, Adamczyk 1.
