Quick feet and hands benefit any basketball team. Couple this with an ability to anticipate and a team’s defense can overwhelm its opponent nearly every possession. Such was the case last Tuesday in Alba-Golden.

The Lady Panthers scored 16 straight points against Big Sandy in the first 6:45 of the contest and never looked back, outplaying the Ladycats in a 60-16 rout.

Every single Lady Panther contributed to the win, not unheard of for a team, but somewhat uncommon is that all ten of them scored at least one field goal. Only Carlee Dooley waited until the second half to tally hers, a three-pointer.

Alba-Golden coach Dale Clements had them playing in shifts of five in, five out. With nearly even playing time between the starters and the relievers off the bench, the Lady Panthers had ample opportunity to get into the flow of the game. They took advantage.

The second string scored 21 points for Alba-Golden, five more than Big Sandy’s game total. Kamrin Wright had 10 to lead the bench scorers with four field goals, two of them three-pointers, including one from deep at the final buzzer.

Bella Crawford was merely one point shy of matching the Ladycats’ sum with 15 points. Kalli Wright added a dozen for the game and had two blocks in the first half alone, when Crawford got three steals.

Hannah Wright notched three buckets among many hard-fought battles in the post, tallying six points.

Kadence Thompson had four points, as did Cacie Lennon, who dished four assists just in the first half.

Dooley, Amanda Stewart, Autumn Whitten and Jessie Mitchell each made one field goal, Dooley’s from behind the three-point arc.

The Lady Panthers will certainly be working on their free throw shots over the winter break after hitting just one of their 11 attempts at the line.

Perhaps more important than any statistic or strategy is that it’s obvious the Lady Panthers are having fun on the court. The smiles on their faces when making a play they are proud of shine about as bright as the lights off the still-gleaming gym floor, newly-refinsihed as of this fall.

Alba-Golden can take comfort in joy before heading to Scurry-Rosser then Miller Grove on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively to close out pre-district play.