From one extreme to the other

Lady Panthers suffer narrow loss, boys win as Allison ties 3-point record

Craig Bardo

Senior Brandon Allison controls the offense while Whitewater’s senior Miles Lowe guards senior Gabe Sands. Allison tied the boys team record with seven three-pointers made in one night. He now shares the record with fellow senior Elliott Baker. Starting off the game with Allison’s three-pointer in the first ten seconds, aggressive play and solid execution kept Whitewater out of contention the entire night.

Abby Carter, Staff Writer
February 9, 2021

Last Friday, Starr’s Mill played at Whitewater in the last games of the regular season that would determine final placements heading into the region tournament. 

The boys blew out Whitewater 71-44, helping them secure the region’s second seed, while the girls lost 45-44 on a final shot by Whitewater’s junior Charity Cloud. The girls ended the regular season in the region’s sixth spot.

Freshman Brooke Godown and a Lady Wildcat player eye the basket. Both Starr’s Mill teams came into Friday night’s games looking to improve their region standing prior to this week’s region tournament. The boys won and moved into second in the region, while the girls fell to sixth in the region with their loss. (Craig Bardo)

“We are going to watch our film on Northside Columbus, we’re gonna work really hard on our defensive schemes to make sure that we can lock up their number five and number fourteen who are their best players, and we’re going to do whatever we can to bottle up what we just did and reproduce it,” head coach Josh Reeves said.

Senior Brandon Allison tied the boys’ single-game record with seven three-pointers en route to scoring 29 points on the night. Senior Maurice Massey and junior Malachi Townsend both added 11 points.

“[We need to get] into more offensive sets and [run] through the offense more smoothly,” Allison said. “When we don’t get it out of the first pass of the play, [we need to] keep running through and set it back up.”

Throughout the first half Starr’s Mill was on the attack. They had a strong start in the first quarter with Allison making a three-pointer within the first ten seconds, and following that trend through the rest of the quarter. 

Whitewater could get to the basket but couldn’t make their shots. They were very timid with their defense which gave Starr’s Mill the upper hand and resulted with only three turnovers. 

In the second quarter Starr’s Mill sustained the lead and remained combative, carrying a 33-17 lead into halftime. 

“To become more comfortable in the first half we just got to come out with a lot of energy and then try to speed the other team up so we can get enough baskets in,” Massey said.

Starr’s Mill kept the same energy in the second half, denying Whitewater any chance of coming back. Reeves used the team’s commanding lead to rest the starters. The Panthers went on to win 71-44. 

With McIntosh losing to Harris County, Starr’s Mill moved into the region’s second spot.

Starr’s Mill hosts Northside in the first round for the region tournament. The Panthers won both regular season meetings. The game begins tonight at 6:30 p.m. in the Panther Pit.

Though the boys game was a blow out and over from the moment it started, the girls game had the crowd on the edge of their seats until the final seconds. 

“[We] study film and play to their weaknesses, and hopefully come out on top,” head coach Emily Sweeney said.

Junior Jaclyn Hester led the team in scoring with 21 points. Freshman Brooke Godown contributed nine points. 

Whitewater junior Charity Cloud drives toward the basket. Cloud’s jumpshot with four seconds left in the game gave the Lady Wildcats the lead and the win over Starr’s Mill 45-44. (Craig Bardo)

Both teams struggled to maintain possession in the first quarter, mainly due to pressure from each team’s defense. Whitewater carried a one-point lead into the second quarter.

The Lady Wildcats started to stretch their lead to begin the second quarter, but Starr’s Mill battled back to be within two points at halftime.

“I think we give teams too many chances on second shots and second looks at the basket,” Hester said. “It’s not going to work.”

The Lady Panthers came out of the break with more movement and more cuts toward the basket. Both teams played a more disciplined game overall as Starr’s Mill held a narrow lead throughout the third quarter. 

It was back and forth to the finish. With 27 seconds left Whitewater finally recaptured the lead. Hester was fouled on the next Starr’s Mill possession. She made her two free throws to give the lead back to the Lady Panthers. With four seconds left on the clock and one final chance to win it Whitewater, junior Charity Cloud hit a jumper to give the Lady Wildcats the win, 45-44.

“We have to box out. That’s our main goal that we have to do,” senior Addie McDaniel said. “We just have to make sure that everyone has to box out and that the execution is there.”

Starr’s Mill travels to Harris County tonight to compete in the first round of the region tournament. The two teams split their regular season meetings. The game begins at 6 p.m.

Both teams can secure a spot in the AAAAA state playoffs with a single win in the region tournament.