ATLANTIC, Iowa — The Panorama High School girls basketball team played Treynor here Thursday night, and it was a nail bitter for all down to the last few seconds.
The Panthers came out to play, with multiple Panthers putting points on the board. With only 1:40 to go, the Panthers were down but one point, but defense was the name of the game, and the Panthers forced a shot clock violation on Treynor.
Panora called a timeout with 1:23 to go and took the floor, still down by one. Tyme Boettcher missed a 3-pointer, and Treynor had the ball with 1:12 on the clock, and they put up a 3-pointer with 35.4 seconds in the game and missed.
Jaidyn Sellers came away with the rebound, and the Panthers call a timeout with 28 seconds to play and down by 1.
On the Panthers last offensive play, Boettcher took the ball out on the side at half court with an inbounds pass to Mia Waddle in the backcourt. Waddle passed to Jaidyn Sellers on the left wing with 24 seconds left. Boettcher posted up on the left block, and Sellers feed Boettcher the ball.
Boettcher hit a turnaround jumper with 18.7 seconds left, giving the Panthers a 39-38 lead with 6.1 seconds to go.
Treynor called a timeout before any time came off the clock. Treynor inbounded on the left side and attempted a baseline shot that struck the side of the backboard, and Morgan Crees grabbed the rebound as the buzzer sounded.
“Every girl played a huge part in this win! Each practice this postseason has taken each and every girl to prepare for this game,” said Coach Boettcher. “A huge shout out to our student section and community. You were the game changer.”
The Panthers have reached the regional finals in each of the last four years. In 2020 the lost to West Hancock, and in 2021 they fell to by Cherokee. The 2022 Panther team beat Nodaway Valley and went on to State, and this year’s defeat of Treynor opens the way for another trip to State.
Last year at State the Panthers beat fifth-rated Iowa City Regina in the Quarterfinals and lost in the Semifinals to Dike-New Hartford. In the last four years, the Panthers overall record is 86-13. They are 22-2 this year.
“Words cannot express how proud we are of this team!” Coach Boettcher said.
