PANORA — The 2017-2018 season was one to remember for the Panorama girls basketball team, as the Panthers finished 23-2 overall and appeared in the state quarterfinals. The team was 16-0 in WCAC action.
Five valuable seniors have departed from Dan Druivenga’s stellar club, but two critical pieces return to lead a group of talented, if largely untested, reserves.
Senior point guard Bailey Beckman returns after having a stellar junior year. She is the fourth-leading scorer returning in Class 2A after pouring in 443 points (17.7 ppg). Her 98-of-115 free throw percentage of 85.2 was second-best in 2A among players with at least 50 attempts from the line. Beckman hit 45-of-132 3-pointers (34.1 percent), had 88 rebounds, 45 assists and 84 steals.
In late January Beckman became the fourth-leading scorer in school history and enters her final season with 1,108 points.
Also returning is senior post Morgan Johnk. She had 259 points (10.4 ppg) and 149 rebounds, with a team-best 61 assists. Johnk blocked 43 shots and came away with 33 steals.
The Panthers were dominant throughout the season last winter, scoring 1,452 points (58.1 ppg) while allowing just 854 (34.1). Their 72.3 free throw accuracy was second-best in 2A and the seventh highest among all classes.
The team drained 139-of-416 (33.4 percent) on their 3-points attempts, made 33 steals per contest on average and averaged 30.9 rebounds per outing.
Seniors Brooke Halterman, Lydia Knapp, Vallerie Storesund and Jaelyn Waddle will have to step in and fill important roles on the floor this season if the Panthers hope to return to Des Moines in late February.
The Panthers schedule is home-heavy at the start. They begin play with a girls-only visit to Gilbert Nov. 20, then host W-G for a boys/girls set Nov. 30. IKM-Manning visits Dec. 1 for a boys/girls twin bill beginning at 1 p.m., with Pleasantville the visitor Dec. 4.
