MANNING — Saturday’s non-conference matinee between a pair of top 10 Class 2A girls cage teams was a close and as tense as could be expected, with No. 6 Panorama using a 15-9 scoring edge in the fourth quarter to pull out a 50-45 win over host and 10th-rated IKM-Manning.
The game was close throughout, neither team able to put the other away with a sustained run. Panorama (4-1) trailed, 10-9, after the first quarter but was able to open a 25-21 lead at the half. IKM-Manning (2-1) held a 36-35 edge entering the final frame, but the Panthers remained calm and coolly worked themselves back into the lead, then pulled away just enough for the win.
The Wolves hit 8-of-16 3-pointers to just 4-of-12 for the Panthers and finished with a 33-24 edge in rebounding, but the hosts were just 5-of-8 at the foul line while the visitors hit 14-of-21.
Sophomore guard Bailey Beckman continued the hot start to her season by scoring 20 points while making three steals and having two assists. Morgan Johnk had 15 points and eight points while blocking three shots for Panorama, with Devyn Kemble scoring seven points.
Kellie Prince and Hope Wilderman had three points apiece and Nicole Rolfes added a basket to account for the Panther scoring. Prince and Wilderman each pulled down four boards, with Kemble making three thefts.
Kia Rasmussen led the Wolves with 18 points, 10 rebounds and four assists.
The win followed a landslide win over visiting WCV Friday.
The Wildcats created a brief scare by trailing only 33-25 at the half, but a 31-4 third quarter but an end to any concerns as the Panthers opened a 64-29 gap en route to a 75-35 WCAC victory.
Beckman had 24 points, Kemble 17 and Johnk 12, with Wilderman adding eight points. Brooke Halterman and Lydia Knapp scored four points apiece, with Prince providing three points, Jaelyn Waddle two and Anna Holloway one.
Wilderman had nine rebounds, Johnk eight and Kemble seven, with Prince making six assists and four steals, with Beckman tallying five steals and Kemble four while Johnk blocked three shots.
WCV statistics were not available, nor were many details from Tuesday’s 58-20 throttling of visiting Des Moines Christian.
Panorama had leads of 15-4, 30-6 and of 44-18 after each of the first three quarters en route to the win. Beckman had 31 points and Kemble 19 for the hosts.
Panorama visits Earlham Tuesday and AC/GC Friday for a pair of WCAC contests. In addition, the Panther girls will play a junior varsity/varsity set against visiting Martensdale-St. Marys Thursday.
