PANORA — A pair of lopsided victories in non-conference play Monday gave the home crowd reason to cheer as Panorama swept Nodaway Valley on the hardwood.
The eighth-rated Panther girls (14-1) stormed to a 35-16 halftime lead en route to a 68-42 win over the Wolverines (9-6) while Panorama (7-8) used a 22-12 third-quarter spurt to down a good Nodaway Valley (11-3) squad in the boys contest.
Panorama held a slight 26-20 lead in the nightcap before blowing the game open in the third quarter. The Panthers defense forced the Wolverines to shoot from outside and then assured poor accuracy with tight coverage, holding the visitors to only 4-of-23 from beyond the 3-point line. The hosts were themselves 7-of-17 from long range.
The seven wins now recorded by the Panther boys is one more than the team earned last season.
Gracen Welberg had 21 points, Kolby Shackelford 16 and Zach Rizzuti 13 to guide the home team to the win. Alias Stahl had six points (two 3-pointers) for the Panthers, with Malachi Peasley, Dominic Walker and Jared Wasson had two points apiece, with Preston Walker and Drew Taylor each sinking a free throw.
Shackelford buried four triples and Rizzuti one, with the former making three assists while the latter had five rebounds and three assists. Welberg tallied six boards and three steals and Peasley three assists while Stahl finished a strong outing with six caroms and two blocked shots.
Clay Hohertz had 22 points to lead Nodaway Valley, which received five points apiece from Cole Shike, Brady Hilpipre and Aryll Shantz.
Defense helped spark the Panther girls. The team finished with 22 steals in the victory, with Morgan Johnk making nine thefts and Payton Beckman five.
The hosts sped to a 21-8 lead after eight minutes and extended their advantage to 19 points, up 35-16, at the break. The score stood at 59-31 after three frames.
Bailey Beckman poured in 28 points and Payton Beckman 12, with Lydia Knapp scoring eight points and Johnk seven. Anna Holloway had five points, Vallerie Storesund four and both Brooke Halterman and Ella Waddle two.
Senior guard Bailey Beckman had six rebounds, Knapp five and Johnk four, with Beckman adding three assists. Vallerie Storesund finished with three assists, with Johnk rejecting two shots.
Statistical information from the Wolverine girls was not available.
Panorama hosts Earlham Friday for a WCAC set and will then entertain Greene County Monday in a non-conference twin bill. A trip to Ogden is slated for Tuesday, with the teams traveling to Interstate-35 Feb. 1.
