Following a crucial win over Morrow on Jan. 23, Starr’s Mill looked to add to their winning streak against the Fayette County Tigers on Friday night. The Panthers blew out the Tigers 57-38 in their previous matchup on Jan. 9, and would proceed to sweep the season series with a 55-48 win over Fayette County.

“The next game is the biggest game after we win,” head coach Brandon Hutchins said. “Another win is another shot at the number one seed.”

The Panthers played great on both ends of the floor throughout the first quarter. On offense, they continuously attacked the basket, scoring easy layups and drawing fouls. Defensively, Starr’s Mill limited Fayette County’s penetration, forcing them to settle for outside shots, as well as forcing turnovers, which resulted in uncontested fast break buckets. The Panthers ended the quarter with a five point lead over the Tigers.

Starr’s Mill was not able to keep up their defensive dominance in the second quarter, giving up 16 points, including three three-point jump shots. However, several players including senior Jake Bishop and junior Julian Lynch were able to put some points on the board for the Mill. The Panthers ended the half with 28 points to the Tigers’ 22. Bishop and senior Drew Hudson combined for ten first half points.

“We played well as a team,” Bishop said. “We got the ball to the right people and made the right shots.”

The third quarter was Hudson’s quarter. He went on a scoring tear, putting the ball in the basket at every given opportunity, with three layups, a three-point jump shot, two free throws, and a mid-range jump shot. Hudson scored 13 of the Mill’s 18 points, helping the Panthers double their lead going into the fourth quarter.

“I thought [Hudson] did well,” Hutchins said. “I think he’s the best player in the region.”

The fourth quarter was nearly a disaster for the Panthers. A series of unforced turnovers allowed Fayette County to score off of fast breaks to cut the lead to single digits. However, Hudson was still able to score six points to keep Starr’s Mill in front. The Panthers went on to win the game 55-48. Hudson ended the game with a team high 25 points.

“We learned a lot from this game,” Hudson said. “We learned that we can battle through adversity against a tough road crowd.”

Starr’s Mill extended their winning streak to seven games and improved their overall record to 15-7. Their next game is Jan. 30 on the road against Riverdale High School where they look to secure the No. 1 seed in the region. The Panthers defeated the Raiders 56-35 in their last matchup. The game begins at 7:30 p.m.