On Friday, December 20^th, the undefeated Paint Branch Lady Panthers took on the 3-1 Sherwood Warriors. Both teams were coming off wins in their previous games, and it looked like it was going to be a competitive game early. However, everyone in the packed Panther House quickly saw that the Lady Panthers came ready to play. The Lady Panthers asserted their dominance early and often as they cruised to a win.

Starting quickly, the Lady Panthers took a commanding 19-8 lead at the end of the first quarter. With a mix of smothering defense, which they set up with their full-court press and constant attack of their three-guard lineup, the Warriors just could not keep up.

With the start of the second quarter, the Warriors looked to respond by taking control with energy and hustle from guards Nicole Stockinger and Allison Thorn. The Warriors strong play paid off as they outscored the Lady Panthers 11-10 in the quarter. However, the Lady Panthers’ strong start helped them hold on to a 29-19 lead at the half.

The Lady Panthers could do no wrong from there, as they opened up the second half on a commanding 6-0 run as they had their way with the Warrior’s defense. Junior guard Dasia Harris led the way in a 15-3 run in the quarter and ultimately finished with a game-high 23 points. Sophomore Autumn Ashe helped crash the boards, as well as adding 16 points to help the Panthers balanced attack. Senior Kiara Colston had 11 points, as well as a healthy dose of assists. With the balanced scoring and tenacious defense shown by the Lady Panthers, the victory was all but sealed at the end of the 3^rd Quarter. The victory keeps the Lady Panthers undefeated and on the radar as one of the best teams in the state. The Lady Panthers looked sharp and focused, and a state championship run is definitely within the team’s grasp.