Fillies trample Lady Jaguars
Longview News Journal
Thursday, February 08, 2007
CARTHAGE — The Panola women's basketball game on Wednesday against Jacksonville could have easily been a trap game for the Fillies, considering their first-place tie with Trinity Valley and Blinn, and Jacksonville's winless Region XIV campaign to date.
But Panola proved early there would be no letdown. Jacksonville could hang with Panola for four minutes, trailing 7-5. But the Fillies scored the next 15 points as part of a 24-2 run that gave them a commanding 31-7 lead, en route to a convincing 90-60 dismantling of the last-place Lady Jaguars at Arthur Johnson Gymnasium.
Panola (17-7, 9-3) hit six 3-pointers in the first half to lead 35-15 at halftime. Jacksonville (9-13, 0-11) never got closer than 15 points in the second half.
Panola coach Tracey Stellato was happy with the ball movement and first-half defense, but said there were aspects of the Fillies' game that could have been better.
"There were times when we were really unselfish with it," said Stellato, referring to Panola's well-balanced scoring. "We didn't shoot too well from the free-throw line, and late in the second round (of conference play) and in tournament — if we're fortunate enough to make it there — if a team puts you at the free-throw line, you've got to make them pay.
"The more fortunate we are (to be) at the top of the standings, more people are going to come at you with their 'A' game. But you can't be upset with a 30-point win."
The Fillies shared the wealth, with no one scoring more than Beata Widding's 15 points, which all came in the second half on three triples and 6-for-6 free-throw shooting. Lauren Rust's nine points (4-for-5 shooting) also came exclusively in the second half.
Satara Harrell had 13 points — 11 in the second half — on 6-for-10 shooting with five rebounds, while Kim Edmonson added 13 points on 4-for-9 shooting. Karee Houlette scored all of her 11 points in the first half, hitting a trio of 3-pointers that were key in boosting Panola's lead.
Panola's defensive intensity was far too much for the Lady Jaguars in the first half. Melissa White spearheaded the Fillies' defensive efforts, finishing with six steals and eight points, including two 3-pointers. Dominique Sims was Panola's top rebounder and distributor, contributing five points, eight rebounds (four offensive) and seven assists.
Jacksonville's Sophia Piggie led all scorers with 18 points, while Shundrae Faulk added 11 points and 10 rebounds. Shonta Dobbins scored 10 points, and Theodora Pandeli had four points, 10 boards and three assists.
Men
Jacksonville 72, Panola 66
Panola coach Jacob Wonders knew what his team would face against Jacksonville on Wednesday night. What he expected is what the Jaguars dished out.
Jacksonville hit 7 of 10 free throws in the final 1:19 of the game and kept the Ponies from sparking their running game the entire night as the Jaguars improved to 6-8 in Region XIV with a 72-66 victory.
Panola's uptempo style never got off the ground, despite a fairly strong defensive performance. Jacksonville turned the game into a grind-it-out slugfest, just what the Jaguars wanted. The result was a 31-12 free-throw-attempt advantage in the second half.
Jacksonville (13-8) led 28-25 at halftime, but a 6-0 Panola run tied the game at 35 three and a half minutes into the second half. Gradually over the next eight minutes, the Jaguars nudged its lead out to seven at 54-47 on a pair of free throws by Lithuanian Deividas Petravicius, but the Ponies again responded. A Justin Dennis 3-pointer sparked a 7-0 run capped by a Don Riley jumper off the glass to tie the game, 54-54, with 6:55 left in the game.
With 6:36 left, Jacksonville got a 5-point possession that turned the tide. Orrin Greer scored and was fouled, and Riley's reaction to the foul call garnered a technical. Petravicius hit both technical free throws, and Greer converted his free throw for a three-point play, putting the Jaguars up 59-54.
Jacksonville pushed its lead 63-54 with 4:30, but Panola fought back, and Christopher Jones' shot from the lane off the glass cut Jacksonville's advantage to 69-66 with 17 seconds left. After Greer hit a pair from the charity stripe, Panola's Dominique Whatley couldn't connect from deep, and the Jaguars held on for the win.
Marcus Anderson led Jacksonville with 15 points on 4-for-16 shooting with six rebounds and three assists
Christopher Jones had 16 points (6-for-11), five offensive rebounds and four assists to lead Panola.
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