PANORA — Win number 19 was not pretty, but no one wearing Panther blue was complaining Tuesday after Panorama fought off a determined AC/GC squad, 58-53, in their Class 2A Region 3 battle.
The win moves the Panorama girls (19-3) to a Friday home game against IKM-Manning (17-5), who stopped East Sac County, 66-53, Tuesday. The Wolves defeated the Panthers, 78-57, in Manning Dec. 7. The Region 3 Final will be held Feb. 26 in Fort Dodge. All games have 7 p.m. start times.
AC/GC (11-11) stayed close by sinking nine 3-pointers and finishing an impressive 12-of-15 at the foul line. Panorama drained eight treys and were 16-of-27 at the stripe.
Panorama faced a 27-24 deficit at the half but moved in front, 42-40, at the end of the third quarter. They were able to hang on for the win, their 19th in the last 20 games.
Payton Beckman had 22 points and Laci Rishel 14 to lead the Panthers. Angel Poldberg and Ella Waddle had eight points apiece, Anna Holloway four and Shey Storesund two.
Beckman, Rishel and Waddle had two 3-pointers apiece, with Holloway and Poldberg each hitting once each behind the arc.
EmmaKay McClain had six triples and 22 points for AC/GC, with Kylie Young splashing three treys as part of her 14 points. Alaina Bunde tallied eight points, Kennedy Young six, Jorja Hoover two and Sophie Dorsey one.
