Panther Creek girls basketball wins tight game over conference rival in state tournament
Four points were enough for the Panther Creek girls to secure a fourth win this season over visiting Green Level, 43-39, in Tuesday’s N.C. 4A girls’ basketball state playoffs’ opening round. The Southwest Wake Conference rivals’ three previous meetings were decided by 32 (January 6), 28 (February 3), and 12 (February 15) points, respectively, each yielding a Catamounts triumph.
“They threw the kitchen sink at us,” Panther Creek coach Danielle Sullivan said. “I think we realized that with our backs against the wall, we had to fight. I’m proud of the way we fought.”
The Catamounts failed to convert a 3-pointer, while the Gators made five. Talia Austin made the fourth of five long-range shots as the third quarter concluded. This trifecta pulled Green Level (11-16) within two points (30-28) before another Austin basket knotted the score at 32 with 6:07 remaining. The Gators, however, went scoreless for the next 3:21
“We controlled our tempo better, which allowed us to stay in the game longer,” Green Level coach Ben Woolf said. “We are blessed to have girls play that hard for us.”
The undersized Gators were challenged on the interior by Kirstin Smalls (14 points). Her step through and layup after Austin knotted the score earned Panther Creek (24-4) the lead for good. Green Level was foiled, too, on its final three possessions ended by two Catamounts steals and an unforced turnover.
A late free throw by Olivia Tucker (14 points) stretched Panther Creek’s lead to three possessions (43-36) within the game’s final minute. The Catamounts, though, made just 11 of 20 free throws for the game.
The Gators’ Audrey Ericksen — who scored a game high 16 points — drilled a top-of-key three-pointer as time expired to cement the final margin.
“An ugly win, a tough win, is still a win,” Sullivan said, “and I’ll take it.”
Panther Creek, a 2022 state quarterfinalist, will host Southern Alamance, which defeated Wilmington Ashley, on Thursday.