Collect a season’s worth of bad decisions and put them all in one game. That was the Alba-Golden Lady Panthers’ night last Tuesday against Cooper. The fact that the Lady Panthers still made such a close game of it is a credit to their effort and unwillingness to concede not one inch.

Alba-Golden started the game in fine fashion by forcing consecutive Cooper turnovers. But the turnovers cut both ways in the opening quarter. The Lady Panthers forced seven turnovers but committed eight of their own. At the end of one quarter Cooper led 9-7.

Errant play by Alba-Golden featured in the second quarter. In an emotionally-charged game, Cooper held its composure, and the Lady Panthers began to fray around the edges. Simple execution errors gave way to frustration, and soon even the simplest lay-in was a challenge for Alba-Golden.

Cooper ended the first half on a 9-0 run and took a 23-11 lead into the break. 

The third quarter was a new game entirely. Alba-Golden held Cooper scoreless until the final 23 seconds in the quarter. Two beautiful Kalli Wright assists – one to Hannah Wright and one to Autumn Whitten – and four free throws closed the score to 24-19 at the end of three quarters. 

As dominating as the quarter was for the Lady Panthers, they managed only eight points. Unfortunately, poor shooting from the charity stripe cost the Lady Panthers the chance to establish a lead heading into the final quarter.

The Lady Panthers began to play their normal game in the final quarter. Whitten hit a 3-pointer and Crawford drove the lane for a score. With three minutes to play, Alba-Golden had closed to within two points, 26-24.

As can happen, especially on the road, in a flash the game was decided. Cooper hit a 3-pointer, stole the ball in the backcourt and were fouled on the shot. The 2-point margin with a chance to take the lead was suddenly an 8-point deficit with 2:00 on the clock.

It was too much to overcome. The Lady Panthers managed four points in the closing seconds but fell 32-28.

That left the two teams tied atop the district standings, but an Alba-Golden win Friday combined with a Cooper loss handed the district title to the Lady Panthers.