WOODWARD — Class 2A third-ranked Panorama dodged a game-tying three-point shot at the horn to defeat a determined Des Moines Christian squad and secure a spot in the state tournament next week.
Senior Devyn Kemble buried the first of two free throws with 7.3 seconds remaining to give the Panthers a 36-33 lead, but her second attempt was off the iron and grabbed by a Lion defender.
Point guard Moriah Prewitt raced up court, but she was harassed all the way by Panther guard Bailey Beckman, who forced Prewitt to shoot from slightly off-line, with the ball bouncing off the rim just before the horn, setting off a wild celebration by the Panorama players.
Panorama (23-1) has been stopped one win shy of the state tourney each of the last three years, including one-point losses to DMC in 2015 and a one-point loss to Van Meter last year. Avoiding the still-fresh memories of what those losses felt like has served as motivation for a year, Kemble said.
“None of us wanted to go through that again,” the senior forward said. “From the moment that game (the loss to Van Meter) ended last year this has been our goal, to be the one going to state. It feels great to know we are going to be rewarded for how hard we have worked.”
Six-foot post Kaili Lawson hurt the Panthers throughout the game, especially early on when she scored the first eight DMC (20-5) points as the guests seized a quick 8-2 lead. The Panthers fought back to within 10-8 at the quarter break, then entered the intermission holding a tenuous 18-16 advantage.
Neither team shot well, but Panorama did enough to grab a 28-24 lead to begin the fourth.
DMC quickly scored the first four points of the period to tie the game, with the teams trading baskets until tied at 33-all. Panorama moved in front, 35-33, and grabbed a defensive rebound with 2 minutes, 35 seconds to play.
Opting to run down the clock, the game moved into the waning moments when Kemble was fouled, setting up the final dramatics.
Senior Kellie Prince had three points in the win but played her usual tenacious defense, and said each player had specific roles to fill.
“My job is to score when I can, but it is mainly about defense, and I am fine with that,” she smiled. “Everyone is equally as important, because if one of us is not doing our job it hurts the whole team. Tonight we all had a role in the win.”
That sentiment was echoed by senior Faith Powell, who missed the first portion of the season while recovering from knee surgery.
“I just wasn’t ready to be done, and maybe part of that is I haven’t played as many games as the other girls,” Powell said. “What makes this so satisfying is that we did this together, that everyone played their part in this win, the starters, the subs, all of us. To finally go to state — I am not sure I know how to explain what this feels like.”
Junior center Morgan Johnk said the team did not take the Lions lightly, despite sweeping their WCAC rivals in the regular season.
“We knew they would make adjustments and would fight hard, because that is kind of what you expect from them,” Johnk said. “We just had to focus on doing what we needed to do and not let the emotions get too great either way.”
Older sister Karlee played on the state qualifying Panther team in 2013, and Johnk said “Now at last I know what she felt like when it happened.”
Kemble had 11 points and four rebounds and Beckman 10 points to pace Panorama. Johnk provided seven points, seven boards and two blocks, with Prince and Hope Wilderman scoring three points apiece. Nicole Rolfes added two points, with Powell collecting four rebounds to aid the cause.
Lawson’s game-high 16 led DMC, with Emma Veenstra providing 10 points. Prewitt finished with three points, with Dakoda Evans and Olivia Penland adding two points apiece.
As some 2A Regional Finals from Monday were postponed, the 2A state field has not yet been set. Head coach Dan Druivenga’s squad will play at either 6:45 or 8:30 p.m. Feb. 27 or at 10 or 11:45 a.m. on Feb. 28.
