Quinlan Boles delays Alba-Golden’s playoff spot

By Sam Major
photos@wood.cm
Posted 2/23/23

The Alba-Golden Panthers started strong in their regular-season closer, but were ultimately beaten by the quick, bold Quinlan-Boles Hornets last Tuesday, 71-54.

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Quinlan Boles delays Alba-Golden’s playoff spot

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The Alba-Golden Panthers started strong in their regular-season closer, but were ultimately beaten by the quick, bold Quinlan-Boles Hornets last Tuesday, 71-54.

The matchup was preceded by a few lovely moments honoring the Alba-Golden seniors, set to suit up for their final home game.

Senior forward Conner Gibson had the hot hand to open up, scoring the Panthers’ first seven points.

One would have to search extensively to find a player who fights harder for rebounds than senior Jerry Skinner, who soon joined the scoring action in the post.

Brayden Randolph and Kaden Kennedy added buckets on the way to a ten point margin at 18-8.

Three Boles threes kept the Hornets in touch, with the score 19-13 after eight minutes. Just 80 seconds into the second quarter, that margin shrunk to just two.

Before long, Boles had built a 26-21 lead. Two Randolph threes helped Alba-Golden remain in touch, but they trailed 36-33 at halftime.

The Panther faithful remained hopeful as the home team pulled within two of Boles early in the third, but two Hornet scoring runs of nine and eight each put the game practically out of reach.

After scoring 15 points in the first half, Gibson was held to a lone three-ball in the rest of the way. Skinner was the only other scorer in the third, with nine points in the period.

Alba-Golden merely made a few too many passes that were slightly off the mark or mistimed, and the Hornets made them pay for the minor misses repeatedly.

Boles was in the right place to capitalize on where the ball fell, especially on the boards, including a three-pointer which a Hornet player air-balled, but was caught and put back up for two for the final points of the third quarter, bringing the tally to 61-45.

Randolph, the quick-footed, sharp-shooting Panther guard, was visibly frustrated at his team being unable to mount a successful comeback effort in their final defense of home court. That frustration appeared to morph into sadness as he and the other starters spent a few minutes on the bench in the fourth, before taking the floor one last time.

Despite the outcome, one thing remained obvious – a love of the game can still be instilled in Alba-Golden.

The loss put the Panthers in a play-in game with Como-Pickton for fourth place and the final district playoff spot.