Panther Free Throws Clinch Win Over Chargers

Most basketball coaches have a philosophy about free throws that goes something line this: "We want to make more free throws than our opponent attempts." The thought is that if a team succeeds in accomplishing that goal, it will win most of the time. This observer has never done a study of the theory, but it was certainly true in regards to last night's boys' basketball game between ACGC and Panorama played on the Panther home court.

The Chargers had an advantage in field goal scoring, as they outscored the Panthers 56-48 from the field. But from the free throw line ACGC made 8 of 15 for 53%, while Panorama converted on 24 of 30 for 80%. That's a sixteen point advantage from the charity stripe for the Panthers; hence the eight point win for the home team.

Although the Chargers were in the game throughout, Panorama led from start to finish, scoring the first basket of the game and taking a 16-11 lead after the first quarter on a buzzer beater by Lucas Leiferman.

After Eli Kading's two free throws got the Chargers within four points at 22-18 at the mid point of the second quarter, the Panthers hit three treys in the final 3:45. That included another buzzer beater, this one from Evan Taylor, to give Panorama a 37-26 halftime lead.

Midway through the third quarter the Chargers made a run at the Panthers. Trailing 49-34, ACGC scored on four consecutive possessions to get within six points at 49-43. The elder Kading netted five points, while Charlie Crawford and Lucas Marsh each scored a basket during the run. The quarter ended with Panorama leading 51-45.

The fourth quarter got interesting. After the Panthers outscored the Chargers 9-2 to start the final frame, ACGC went on an 11-0 run to get within two points at 60-58 with 2:25 showing on the clock. The Kading brothers did all of the scoring, and it was anybody's ball game!

With 1:41 on the clock and holding a 62-58 lead, the Panthers went into a delay game and the Chargers were forced to foul. Here's where the Panther prowess at the free throw line paid off, as the home team converted on 8 of 10 freebies to secure the 72-64 victory.

Three Chargers scored in double figures, while four Panthers did.the same. Eli Kading led all scorers with 23, with Charlie Crawford and Lucas Marsh netting 12 and 10. Marsh led in rebounding with 11 to give him a double double for the game. Eli led in assists with 4 and Marsh came up with a couple of steals.

ACGC shot very well inside the arc, making 25 of 40 shots for 62.5%, but was only 2 for 16 from beyond the arc. The Panthers scored 15 times out of 37 two point attempts for 41% and made 6 three point attempts out of 14 tries for 43%.

Dominic Walker topped the scoring for the Panthers with 17, while Evan Taylor scored 15, Lucas Leifermen 12, and Bice Taylor 10. Leiferman was tops in rebounding with 8, while Brice Taylor had 4 assists and Evan Taylor had a pair of steals.

Charger coach Lance Kading offered these comments on the game: "We shot poorly form the outside and from the free throw line. We didn't stop their dribble penetration and didn't keep the ball out of the paint which led to some easy Panorama buckets and their shooting a ton of free throws. But I am proud of our guys for competing until the final buzzer."

Score by quarter:

ACGC 11 15 19 19--64

Pan 16 21 14 21--72

Charger stats: (TP-REB-ASTS-STLS) EKading (23-7-4-1) BMarsh (8-2-2-1) Crawford (12-4-0-0) LMarsh (10-11-0-2) MKading (9-1-2-1) Rogers(2-2-0-0) Littler (0-0-1-0) Kunkle (0-0-0-0) Richter

(0-0-0-0)

Panorama stats: Leiferman (9-8-3-1) ETaylor (14-2-1-2) DWalker (15-2-1-0) DTaylor (9-3-0-0) BTaylor (10-3-4-0); Klinge (6-0-0-0) PWalker (0-6-2-0) Hambleton (2-0-1-0) Weinkoetz (0-0-0-0)

Rizzuti (7-6-2-0)