STUART — Panorama cruised to a 70-24 win over host West Central Valley in WCAC play Friday, three days after suffering a 69-56 loss at Des Moines Christian.
Friday’s victory lifted the Panthers to 2-10 overall and 2-9 in league play while WCV fell to 1-11 and 0-10.
The Panthers held a 15-6 lead after one quarter, then erupted for a 27-point second frame to post a 42-15 advantage at the intermission. The lead only grew from there, despite a continuous clock starting after the third quarter ended with Panorama holding a 55-20 lead.
Evan Taylor led the Wildcats with eight points, with Brook Wolfe adding six points, Cole Arnburg five, Drew Taylor three and Billy Larson two. The team hit just 8-of-20 attempted free throws.
Panorama, in contrast, hit 14-of-22 at the foul line, and were led in scoring by 18 points from Gracen Welberg, 14 from Zac Rizzuti and 10 from Malachi Peasley. Jacob Merschman had eight points and Michael Allen seven, with Blaine Barber, Dylan Douglass and Tanner Godfrey had three points apiece. Two points from Jack Weinkoetz and two from Jacob Iseminger capped the scoring.
The victory followed a 13-point loss Tuesday at Des Moines Christian.
The Lions had trouble pulling away from a determined Panther squad and held leads of just 17-14 and of 29-26 after the first two quarters, respectively. DMC held a 46-35 lead entering the final frame, with Panorama still within striking distance, down 51-41, with four minutes to play, but the Lions were able to hold on and slightly add to their advantage down the stretch.
Isaac Prewitt vexed the guests with six 3-pointers as part of a 34-point effort, with Trey Johnson adding 12 points and Seth Juhl eight for DMC.
Rizzuti had 18 points to lead Panorama, a total which included a sparkling 9-of-10 from the foul line. The guests sank 24-of-32 from the stripe in the game while the hosts connected on 9-of-14.
Welberg added 15 points and Merschman eight for the Panthers, with Allen scoring seven points, Luke South four and Godfrey and Weinkoetz two each.
