The Alba-Golden girls’ 36-30 loss to the Cumby Lady Trojans last Tuesday pretty much defined the whole season for the Lady Panthers. They generated good shot after good shot but could simply not get the ball to fall through the hoop. 

Only two Lady Panthers scored more than once. Kylie Kennedy continued what has been an excellent year at the post position. She had come into her own this season and has dramatically improved her moves off the left or right hand down the lane. She registered 15 points on the night which included nine in the final quarter.

Cacie Lennon chipped in two 3-pointers which featured in the closing run late in the fourth quarter. She finished with eight points and three assists.

The Lady Panthers swam against the tide for the whole game. Despite a strong start with a nice inside score from Kennedy off a Lennon assist and a 3-pointer from Kamrin Wright after Erin Langston found her at the top of the key, the Lady Trojans held a five-point edge after one quarter.

Early in the second quarter Kennedy collected her third clean shot block of the game. The Alba-Golden defense put in good work in that second quarter, holding the opposition to only seven points. However, with shot after shot going awry, the Lady Panthers mustered only a single basket. At the half the score stood 19-9, Cumby.

Alba-Golden mounted a well-executed counterattack in the second half. Two things characterized their second-half play: control of the defensive rebounding and a much more fluid offensive set. Still, the cover pretty much remained on the basket for Alba-Golden. 

Kennedy hit a nice jump shot from the high post to make it an eight-point game at the end of three quarters. 

Both squads put together solid performances in the final quarter. A beautiful pick-and-roll between Wright and Kennedy drew Alba-Golden to within seven points with 2:21 to play. Lennon connected on her second 3-pointer with :18 showing on the clock to make the score 36-30. 

Alba-Golden forced two Cumby turnovers in the final 18 seconds of play but could not capitalize. The score stood.

In a game decided by six points, it was lost possessions which torpedoed the Lady Panthers. Give-aways in the offensive zone have plagued them all season. It takes only two or three of those possessions over the course of the game to overcome a six-point deficit. 

The Lady Panthers finished district play hosting Cooper on Monday and traveling to Boles Tuesday.