The Panorama Panther girls basketball team, idle since Feb. 6, survived their second and third rounds of regional play last week, handily beating West Central Valley 72-30 at home on Tuesday and outdistancing Adair-Casey Guthrie Center 65-37 Friday night in Guthrie Center.
“With our last game being over a week ago, the girls were ready to get on the floor for a game,” said Coach Boettcher of the Panthers victory of the WCV Wild Cats.
Tyme Boettcher led the Panthers with 31 points and 8 rebounds. Jaidyn Sellers added 14 points and 15 rebounds, with Mia Waddle adding 10 points and 7 assists, Morgan Crees 7 rebounds and 6 assists and Kaitlin Kent 3 assists.
“The focus was on our defense,” said Coach Boettcher, “on discipline and recognition.”
Tyme Boettcher’s 31-point performance brought her to the milestone of 1,000 career points.
“To be honest, I wasn’t sure she would make it this year,” said Coach Boettcher. When an athlete plays two years with the career leader Payton Beckman, who shoots the lights out, and then tears her ACL and sits out a half a season, the numbers don’t add up. But it goes to show that anything is possible if you put in the work in the weight room and the gym.”
Boettcher’s scoring output puts her at seventh place among the leaders in Panorama girls 5-on-5 basketball career point totals:
1. Payton Beckman – 1,682
2. Baiiley Beckman – 1,579
3. Olivia Godfrey – 1,313
4. Elly Arganbright – 1,235
5. Sidney Beckman – 1,058
6. Devyn Kemble – 1,047
7. Tyme Boettcher -1,012
The Panther girls again caught fire Friday night once they hit their groove against ACGC.
“Our defense was energized,” said Coach Boettcher. “It was a great four quarters of basketball. The atmosphere, the competition — it’s what makes us love the game.”
Many Panthers stepped rose to the challenge in scoring, including sophomore Morgan Crees with 17 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Sellers earned a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds, and Waddle added in 14 points and 5 assists.
“We had girls who stepped up big time tonight and the timing is impeccable,” said Coach Boettcher. “At this point in the season, the team is finding ways to challenge each other in practice and that builds confidence for game time.”
The Panther girls are now 22-1 overall, and they have their sights set on another trip to the State Tournament. Their next game is Wednesday, Feb. 21 against Denver at Marshalltown High School.
The season ended for the Panther boys basketball team when they fell to Audubon Feb. 12 in their first round of regional play.
Both the Wheelers and Panthers came into the game ready to play, and the Panthers narrowly lost 53-51 in the final seconds.
Many Panther boys added points on the scoreboard. Braylon Dawes led with 13 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists. He got help from Trey Boettcher, Maddox Hammerstrom and A. J. Draper.
The Panthers ended their season with a record of 13-9.
