After giving up 12 first-half points to Loberg in Monday’s Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Division 2 contest, the Sherman girls didn’t allow Loberg a field goal in the third quarter and kept her off the scoresheet for a little over six minutes in the fourth quarter while taking the lead.

However, when her team needed her most, Loberg rose to the occasion.

Coming out of a timeout and trailing 51-49 with 1:37 left, the Panthers were able to swing Loberg open for an open corner 3-pointer and she drained it not only to gain the lead for good, but also to 1,000 career points. Loberg was able to get another basket just into the final minute to give Panama a 55-51 lead and the defense locked in for the 55-53 victory and at least a share of the league title.

“We talked about being loud in those couple possessions,” Panama head coach Chris Dole said about the defense to close out the game. “Trying to make sure we got in the passing lanes, which we did twice, and that ended up being the deciding factor. It also helped that Kiera hit her 1,000th point to go up 52-51. All in all, that’s a great win. We’re going to celebrate this one tonight and then we’re going to put it behind us and we’ve got Chautauqua Lake on Wednesday.”

Panama’s Brooke Warner dishes a pass between Sherman defenders Emmersen Crawford, left, and Baya Oehlbeck during CCAA Division 2 girls basketball action in Sherman on Monday. P-J photo by Christian Storms

Trailing by a possession with 1:37 remaining, Panama (13-4, 9-1) managed a six-point swing in less than 30 seconds, thanks to Loberg and a Brooke Warner free throw.

“It feels amazing, I worked so hard for this,” Loberg said about reaching the career scoring milestone. “I have only been on varsity for a few years. I worked so hard in the offseason, and to bring it on the floor now I have no words.”

Just as quickly as the Panthers took the lead, they knew it would be just as easy to have it slip away.

On its next possession, Sherman (8-8, 7-3) cut the deficit to 55-53 with 30 seconds remaining, which meant one basket could swing the game in favor of the Wildcats.

In those final 30 seconds, Sherman had three cracks at getting a tying basket, but each of the Panama girls did their job to give no space for an opportunity to tie or win the game and earned a share of the Division 2 title in the process.

Sherman's Emmersen Crawford attempts to dribble past Panama's Brooke Warner. P-J photo by Christian Storms

“A game like this really requires our girls to stay focused for every minute of all four quarters,” Sherman head coach Emily Eckwahl stated. “The team that has the fewer mental breaks is the one that usually comes out on top. I was so proud of my girls. They really did keep their head in it. They just made a couple more plays than we did down the stretch.”

Panama stayed just one step ahead of Sherman in the first half, but returning from the break the Wildcats rallied behind its home crowd to seize control of the game.

“My girls know that defense is what earns you time on the court,” Eckwahl said. “If you’re one of the five out there, we’re asking you to play your heart out, and that third quarter those five really played with the intensity we need in this kind of game.”

The Wildcats managed to keep Loberg below her scoring average of 21.4 points per game, but stepping up with some big shots was Kiersten Olson. Hitting four 3-pointers, Olson provided another 16 points to secure the victory.

“I talk all the time in practice about how we have complementary players,” Dole said about his group. “We have two superstar complementary players and that’s Kiersten and Brooke. Kiersten showed up tonight on the offensive end and Brooke showed up at the very end down here where she got that steal. That’s what they do, they’re not out here to be the leading scorers, they’re not out here to be flashy, they just get it done. The other three are a three-headed monster, but the other two when we get at least 10 points out of those two it’s a good thing.”

Panama senior Kiera Loberg holds her commemorative 1,000-point ball while joined by her parents Mike and Seri Loberg after Monday’s victory in Sherman. P-J photo by Christian Storms

Loberg didn’t reach her average, but scored a game-high 18 points and added two assists. Warner had four assists, seven steals and six rebounds, Jessica Lyon scored 11 points and grabbed seven rebounds and McKenna Kolstee collected 10 boards.

“We put it together,” Loberg said. “We come into practice determined every day and I couldn’t do it without my team. I am so grateful for everything that has happened.”

While tasked with much of the defensive coverage against Loberg, Sherman’s Emmersen Crawford still managed a double-double of her own with 17 points, 10 rebounds and three assists. Baya Oehlbeck added 11 points and six rebounds, Bria Palmatier had six boards and Carlie Gable grabbed five.

The total point differential between both league games of the rivals is just five points and the close matchups are just a preview of how close the Section VI Class D playoffs could be.

“It’s a game of runs,” Dole added. “Sherman made their runs, we made our runs. They’re two great teams. Whoever gets out of this section, they’re gonna have their hands full. This is the kind of competition we want.”

PANAMA (55)

Warner 1 1 3, Olson 6 0 16, Kolstee 3 0 7, Loberg 5 6 18, Lyon 3 4 11. Totals 18 11 55.

SHERMAN (53)

Gable 2 0 5, Emory 0 4 4, Chamber 1 0 2, Crawford 7 3 17, Palmatier 3 0 6, Kranz 1 0 2, Oehlbeck 4 0 11, Irwin 2 0 6. Totals 20 7 53.

3-point goals–Olson 4, Kolstee, Loberg 2, Lyon, Gable, Oehlbeck 3, Irwin 2.

Panama 16 14 6 19 — 55

Sherman 14 15 14 10 — 53