Thirty-six minutes later, the entire Panthers team had something to celebrate.

Brink scored her 1,000th career point off the opening tip and finished with a game-high 24 points as Panama topped Clymer 44-36.

“She played on a team with Natalie Angeletti and Kylie Schnars,” Panama head coach Dennis Hinsdale said. “In 30 years of coaching, I’ve only given out like three 1,000-point balls. To think she’s done that while being third fiddle (early on) is pretty good.”

The Panthers’ victory, coupled with Silver Creek’s 35-34 defeat of Sherman, clinched the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Division 2 West crown outright for Panama (13-6, 8-2).

Mandy Brink, second from right, is pictured with her father, Rod; mother, Dawn; and brothers, Carter and Dylan. Photo by Debbra Bailey

“An old guy like me has a lot of fun; that tells you what kind of kids they are,” Hinsdale said of his team. “I ask them to play hard, I ask them to play with intensity. That’s what they do and we win games.”

The Pirates, meanwhile, playing without junior Abby White, fell to 13-5 overall and 6-4 in the league.

“Of course I wanted Abby in there … but we played it safe,” Clymer head coach Dave Bodamer said. “That changed our whole defense. At the last second, we were changing our game plan.”

The opening tip fell into the waiting hands of Panama junior Lilly Odell, who quickly passed to Brink streaking upcourt. She finished a lay-in with her left hand and the game was stopped to recognize the career milestone — which came to the surprise of nobody in the gym, except Brink herself.

“I couldn’t have done this without my coaches, my teammates and especially my parents and family,” Brink said. “Everybody has pushed me so hard. I’m so grateful for this moment right now.”

Panama’s Maddie Lisciandro looks to pass around Clymer’s Karlen Honey as the Pirates’ Alexys Neckers (21) looks on during Tuesday’s game in Panama. Photo by Debbra Bailey

Clymer took its first lead with 2:10 remaining and led 12-10 after the first quarter.

Odell banked in a 3-pointer midway through the second quarter to tie the game at 15-all and Brink followed with a 3-pointer to give the Panthers a lead they would carry into halftime.

Pirates junior Natalie Johnson scored on a baseline drive with 3:56 left in the third quarter to give Clymer a 28-27 lead, but that would be the final lead of the night for the Pirates.

“Natalie Johnson stepped in and got very aggressive tonight,” Bodamer said.

After a Clymer turnover, Brink was fouled on a lay-in and Odell rattled in her third 3-pointer of the game to give the Panthers a 32-28 advantage and they led 32-30 entering the final eight minutes.

Pirates junior Aurora Ordines scored on a transition layup with 7:03 left in the game to tie it at 32, but Clymer was never able to get over the hump. After senior Karlen Honey scored with 5:50 left in the fourth quarter, the visitors went 1 for 7 from the field and turned the ball over six times.

“We didn’t make shots. … They took away the high post there in the fourth quarter which slowed down some of our skips,” Bodamer said. ” … We were getting some penetration and even some putbacks that we didn’t finish.”

Panama, on the other hand, took advantage of a Brink 3-pointer off an inbounds play and its junior star going 5 of 6 at the free throw line over the final three-plus minutes to put the game away.

“Those are things that have kind of plagued us a little bit at the wrong times this season,” Bodamer said. “That was another mental lapse there.”

Now both teams will get ready for the Section VI playoffs, which are slated to begin Thursday, Feb. 24 at the home gyms of the higher seeds that night.

“I’m afraid two of (Clymer, Panama and Sherman) are going to have to meet early and that’s unfortunate,” Hinsdale said. “I haven’t seen the Cattaraugus County teams … but bring those teams down to our league and I guarantee they don’t win three games.”

“Our league is brutal. Whoever wins the section I think is up for a good run to states,” Bodamer said. “We could end up going to Sherman next week and I’m not thrilled about that as far as seedings. It is what it is, we just have to go after it.”

NOTES: Panama shot 14 of 54 (25.9%) from the field, including 6 of 26 (23.1%) from 3-point range, and turned the ball over 12 times. … Clymer shot 14 of 52 (26.9%) from the field, including 3 of 18 (16.7%) from 3-point range, and turned the ball over 15 times. … Brink had 10 rebounds, nine steals and three assists while Odell grabbed five rebounds for the Panthers. … Honey had 11 rebounds and Einink had seven while Johnson had five rebounds and three assists for the Pirates. … Panama won the jayvee game 42-18. Aysia Reed led the Panthers with 9 points and Ava Nyweide led the Pirates with 9 points.

CLYMER (36)

Ordines 3 0 6, Einink 3 0 8, Woods 0 2 2, Neckers 3 2 9, Johnson 1 1 3, Honey 4 0 8. Totals 14 5 36.

PANAMA (44)

Bailey 0 0 0, Brink 7 7 24, Schauman 0 0 0, Range 0 0 0, Greene 0 0 0, Morgan 1 3 5, Horton 1 0 2, Harvey 0 0 0, Lisciandro 2 0 4, Odell 3 0 9. Totals 14 10 44.

3-point goals–Einink 2, Neckers, Brink 3, Odell 3.

Clymer 12 9 9 6 — 36

Panama 10 14 8 12 — 44

Jayvees: Panama won.