Panama, Sherman To Meet For Class D Title Friday
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PANAMA -- Mandy Brink returned at just the right time for Panama.
A breakout performance from Kylie Morgan also helped.
Morgan had 15 points and 11 rebounds while Brink scored 14 points for No. 2 Panama in a 53-26 Section VI Class D semifinal victory over No. 3 Pine Valley.
"She's had three or four games where she's played phenomenal," Panama coach Dennis Hinsdale said of Morgan. "She played well tonight."
The win sends Panama into Friday's final at No. 1 Sherman, which beat Clymer in Wednesday's other semifinal.
Panama led 9-7 after the first quarter Wednesday before a 16-4 second quarter helped put the game away. Brink scored 6 points in the quarter as five Panama players scored.
"She just picks the whole team up mentally and physically," Hinsdale said of Brink.
The sophomore guard hadn't played since injuring her knee March 6 at Southwestern.
Jo Bailey grabbed 10 rebounds and Maddie Lisciandro had 7 points and six steals for Panama.
Trista Farnham led Pine Valley with 8 points and eight rebounds; Mattison Cadle had eight rebounds; and Maggie King had five assists.
Now Panama will face Sherman, who is coached by Emily Eckwahl, one of Hinsdale's former players at Clymer. The teams split their two meetings this season.
"It'll be fun. It's always fun playing Sherman," Hinsdale said, "and even more when one of your former players is coaching them."
PINE VALLEY (26)
King 0 0 0, DWest 2 0 4, Westlund 1 0 2, Cadle 2 1 5, Farnham 3 2 8, Herman 0 0 0, RTunstall 0 0 0, LTunstall 0 0 0, Vincent 0 0 0, Dahl 2 0 4, AWest 0 0 0, Hayes 0 0 0, Hardy 1 0 2, Campbell 0 1 1. Totals 11 4 26.
PANAMA (53)
JBailey 1 2 4, Brink 6 2 14, Schauman 1 0 2, Range 0 1 1, Harvey 2 2 6, Morgan 5 5 15, Greene 1 0 2, Lisciandro 2 2 7, Odell 0 2 2. Totals 18 16 53.
3-point goals--Lisciandro.
Pine Valley 7 4 10 5 -- 26
Panama 9 16 17 11 -- 53
SHERMAN ADVANCES
SHERMAN -- Sparked by a strong defensive effort, Sherman advanced with a 42-29 Section VI Class D semifinal victory over Clymer.
"We had a tough time getting the ball in the basket, but our defense held us in the game," Wildcats' coach Emily Eckwahl said.
Tied 11-all after the first quarter, Sherman limited the Pirates to just 18 points the rest of the way. Clymer was able to hang around -- it trailed 29-22 after three periods -- but it couldn't get much closer in the final eight minutes.
Jenna Fisher and Paige Gratto scored 10 points apiece to lead the Wildcats (11-3), who will entertain Panama in the title game at 7 p.m. Friday. Paige Gratto also had seven rebounds and five steals; Mackenzie Gratto pulled down 13 rebounds to go along with five steals and four assists; and Jenna Fisher collected four assists.
Emma Wiggers had 9 points and Alexis Neckers added 8 to lead Clymer (6-8). Karlen Honey grabbed 13 rebounds to go along with six assists and five steals; Mikala Einkink contributed 10 boards; and Sam Nyweide and Emma Wiggers both had five assists.
For Sherman, it's on to another showdown with Panama, a team that downed the Wildcats in the sectional final a year ago. This season, the rivals split their two regular-season games.
"It's the matchup we were hoping for," Eckwahl said. "It's kind of interesting. I'll be coaching against my high school coach (Dennis Hinsdale, who Eckwahl played for when he coached Clymer in the early 2000s). The girls want to have another go with Panama when it counts. We're looking forward to it."
CLYMER (29)
Ordines 0 0 0, White 0 1 1, Nyweide 1 0 3, Snyder 0 0 0, Woods 1 0 2, Neckers 3 0 8, Einink 1 0 2, Wiggers 3 2 9, Honey 0 4 4. Totals 9 7 29.
SHERMAN (42)
Bates 0 0 0, JFisher 4 0 10, Lindsey 2 0 4, PGratto 4 2 10, Lewczyk 3 0 7, MGratto 4 1 9, Swan 0 0 0, HFisher 1 0 2. Totals 18 3 42.
3-point goals--Nyweide, Neckers 2, Wiggers, JFisher 2, Lewczyk.
Clymer 11 4 7 7 -- 29
Sherman 11 15 3 13 -- 42