Alba-Golden Lady Panthers fall to Como-Pickton

Posted 1/13/22

The Alba-Golden Lady Panthers hosted the district favorite Como-Pickton Lady Eagles last Friday in opening district action. The visitors took the game, 50-31, but the Lady Panthers had just a taste of what is necessary to compete for the district title. 

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Alba-Golden Lady Panthers fall to Como-Pickton

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The Alba-Golden Lady Panthers hosted the district favorite Como-Pickton Lady Eagles last Friday in opening district action. The visitors took the game, 50-31, but the Lady Panthers had just a taste of what is necessary to compete for the district title. 

Alba-Golden played a nearly flawless first quarter. They out-rebounded the visitors, played helping defense and made their looks at the basket count.

Kylie Kennedy got the Lady Panthers on the board with two free throws after getting hammered on an inbound play under the basket. Kennedy had a stellar game. She netted 14 points against strong and tall opposition, more than held her own on the boards and demonstrated an alert move to the basket.

The Lady Panthers simply got after the Lady Eagles in that first quarter. It was exhausting work, but the Lady Panthers allowed Como-Pickton no easy shots in the opening quarter. At the break the score stood 11-7, Alba-Golden. 

As can happen against good competition, in a flash the early game dominance disappeared. Como-Pickton went on a 17-point tear. 

They capitalized on every possible misstep by the Lady Panthers. A double-dribble turnover became a score, an errant pass likewise. The visitors also began to range in from the arc and hit on two 3-pointers.  

A Kennedy basket just before the buzzer was the only addition to the home side score sheet in the quarter. At the half, the score stood 24-13, Como-Pickton.

Despite starting the third quarter with a score off a nicely-played screen and roll between Jade Kruse and Kennedy, the Lady Panthers could not muster a comeback. Como-Pickton unlocked their baseline-to-low post connection and depended on it to build a sizable second-half lead.

The Lady Panthers showed their heart in the final quarter, playing the visitors dead-even. The deficit was, unfortunately, too large to overcome.

The Lady Panthers may have surprised themselves a bit by putting together that excellent first quarter of basketball. Had they demonstrated a bit more confidence in their own ability, the game may have unfolded differently.  

After playing Como-Pickton, the Lady Panthers now have a good gauge of the level of competition in the district this season.