The Alba-Golden Panthers dropped a close game to the visiting Cooper Bulldogs, 47-41, on Thursday evening. The game was a rescheduled matchup of the two teams’ early season cancellation.

The Panthers had an outstanding opening quarter. They played attentive, almost error-free basketball. 

As expected, Boedy Baker anchored the effort with seven of the Panthers 15 first-quarter points. Alba-Golden sliced through the Cooper press and often capitalized before the Bulldog defense could reconstitute itself. 

Most notably, the Panthers dominated the early rebounding battle. 

Suddenly, after two quick scores to open the second quarter, the home side fortunes turned. It started with an errant pass, then another. The Panthers began to hurry and could sense the lead slipping.

The Bulldogs were given too many second chance points as the game went on, and they started to build momentum off of those opportunities. As often can occur, as Cooper’s confidence grew, Alba-Golden began to struggle making lay-ups. 

Cooper took the lead with 1:40 to play in the half, 20-19. 

The third quarter saw Cooper begin to exact turnovers through their press. They also recorded two short 5-point scoring runs which built a 10-point margin at the quarter break.

The Panthers came out focused in the final quarter. Kyle Kennedy put in a score from the baseline after a nice weak side feed. A Cooper turnover ensued, and Baker scored inside. 

Just as Alba-Golden began to generate some lasting momentum, Cooper found a way – usually through offensive rebound put-backs or inside assists – to retain a sizable lead. 

Bake Weissert and Will Hartin hit 3-pointers late to keep the Panthers in the game, but they simply could not generate the consistency needed to challenge the lead.     

Alba-Golden is very much yet in the playoff hunt. After hosting Cumby last Friday and traveling to Cooper for a rematch on Tuesday, they will host Boles Friday.