Lady Panthers finish Large Dairyland play

by Rachel Hovey, student writer

The Lady Panthers traveled the long, curvy road to Alma Center Lincoln on Tuesday, Jan. 26.

Alma Center came out shooting hot and created an early lead. Besides the early deficit, the Lady Panthers played with the Hornets in the second half. Yet that early hole was too much for the Lady Panthers to overcome en route to a 66-40 loss.

Jordyn Bloom led in scoring with 10 points, followed by Rachel Hovey with nine, Julia Branger had seven, CallieRae Long had six, Kaitlyn Johnson had four, and Morgan Fillmore and Sadie Wulff had two apiece. Branger led in rebounds with eight. Branger also had four assists and Johanna Wulff had three. Johnson had three steals, while Branger and Long each had a block.

On Friday, Jan. 29, the Lady Panthers hosted the Augusta Beavers for Parents’ Night. The Lady Panthers stuck with the Beavers for the first half, playing their best half of the season. At the half, the score was 25-21, but the injury bug bit the Panthers. Makayla Saul, Long and Bloom each suffered injuries during the game, though Bloom was able to return in the second half.

The Beavers came out in the second half shooting well and pulled away from the Lady Panthers. Injuries and poor shooting plagued the Panthers down the stretch, resulting in the 61-41 loss.

Leading the way for Gilmanton was Branger with 14 points, Makayla Saul, Bloom, Hailey Bork, and Sadie Wulff each had four, Bryanna Reidt had three, and Long, Johnson, Hovey, and Johanna Wulff each chipped in two points. Branger had nine rebounds followed by Johanna Wulff with seven. Branger also chipped in an assist and Johanna Wulff had three steals.

The Lady Panthers traveled to Eleva-Strum on Monday, Feb. 1, and will host Eau Claire Immanuel on Thursday, Feb. 4.