Batchelor, Browning double-digits lead Jr. Panthers to victory, sting Jr. Hornets 39-38
MAGNET COVE — To spark on the hardwood handling the basketball to go coast to coast in full control to score the winning basket off the glass at 06.1 seconds by Hayden Browning lifted the Magnet Cove Jr. Panthers to a thrilling 39-38 victory against Mineral Springs Tuesday at Magnet Cove High School
Gymnasium.
The Jr. Panthers displayed a productive overall performance for their supporting home fans in Panther Country in a intense junior high hoops match-up. Browning finished with 10 points, but teammate Bo Batchelor led all scorers with 11 points for a duo of double-figures against Mineral Springs.
Batchelor paced the Jr. Panthers early by scoring six first quarter points, while Luke Harper and Bronson Coolis each contributed scoring to give Magnet Cove a 11-6 lead to end first period action,
In the second, Mineral Springs stayed within striking distance to execute on both ends of the court—offensively and defensively. While both teams used full-court pressing to apply pressure defensively, the Jr. Panthers were outscored 12-7 in the second. At the break, Magnet Cove and Mineral Springs were tied 1818. The trio of Harper, Batchelor and Browning all provided baskets to score for the Jr. Panthers in the quarter. The Jr. Panthers managed to execute their press offense effectively throughout the first half and move the ball around to allow penetration out of transition as well as coming up with key defensive plays of steals and blocks.
In the second half, the Jr. Panthers kept the intensity progressing and produced a productive third quarter performance to outscore Mineral Springs 13-6. Defensively, the Jr. Panthers held the Jr. Hornets under double-digit scoring in the third—which led to a seven-point lead for Magnet Cove after three periods of action, 31-24.
To save the best for last, the final quarter presented several changes of events for the last six minutes of action. In the fourth, the Jr. Panthers took a 33-24 lead by a basket from Cade Davis at the 5:15 mark. But, the Jr. Hornets rallied back down to the 1:40 mark—which created another similar scenario from halftime and the game was tied
again—35-35. With everyone on edge, the game was now in the control of the team who executed productively down the stretch under pressure. Browning rallied Magnet Cove with a smooth breakaway basket at the 1:27 mark to give the Jr. Panthers a slight 37-35 lead. But the Jr. Hornets drilled a 3-pointer from downtown behind the arc to take a 38-37 lead with 42 seconds remaining in the contest. Patiently, the Jr. Panthers
controlled the clock which led to Browning’s game-winning basket to score and fouled on the continuation. Despite the missed free-throw, Mineral Springs snatched the rebound and coasted across half-court for a shot before the buzzer but came up short and the Jr. Panthers celebrated in victory.
For the game, Jr. Panthers’ Davis contributed eight points, Harper finished with six points and Coolis chipped in four points.