In what has proven to be a frustrating season with some difficult close game losses, head coach Korby Altman had the Gold Beach Panther boys basketball team prepared to avenge a 7 point early season loss as the Panthers hosted the Waldport Fighting Irish Saturday afternoon.
The Panthers came out hungry in the 1st period, eager to get to the basket, challenging Waldport inside and spreading the ball out getting four Panthers involved in the offense early. Freshman Jake Westerman #13 led the way in the first with 3 baskets for half of the Panthers first period points, as sophomore Landyn Miller #3, Nelson Wilstead #12 and sophomore #5 Gianni Altman all scored in the period.
Defensively, both teams matched up well, pressing early and cutting off paths to the basket. Waldport had four players score in the period, hitting two 3 pointers and matching the Panthers with 12 points in the 1st period.
In the 2nd teams different game plans showed Waldport worked the Gold Beach defense inside, settling for mid range jumpers when they couldn’t get to the hoop, and position under the basket for second shot opportunities off of rebounds.
The Panther offense also drove inside, but kicked out for 3 point shots off the drive and hitting 4 times from behind the arc. Sophomores #3 Landyn Miller, #5 Gianni Altman hit from outside and Austin Westerman #15 hit two 3’s and a basket for 8 points as the Panthers out-scored Waldport 16-12.
With a 28-24 lead after the half-time break, the Panther guards controlled the 3rd period with Miller and Altman both hitting from outside and both having 5 points in the period while Jake Westerman #13 and Nelson Wilstead #12 and the Panthers put up another 14 points in 3rd.
The Panthers took a 6 point 42-36 lead into the final period, and Waldport needed to get to the foul line late driving inside on the Panther defense and crashing the boards. This strategy tied the game at 42-42 with 4:00 minutes left to play. Waldport got to the foul line 8 times in the 4th, going 5 for 8 and hitting five baskets to take the 47-52 win in the final minutes of the contest.
The Panthers will be on the road to Coquille Wednesday to take on the 5-4 Red Devils at 5:30pm.
