The #8 ranked Whitharral Lady Panthers played Petersburg in the Area Round of the 1A Division 2 girls basketball playoffs this past Friday at Littlefield High School, beating them 52-26 to win the Area Championship.
The Lady Panthers started slow in the first quarter, only scoring nine points, but they would respond with an explosive 22-point second quarter, which practically put the game to rest from there. Whitharral was led by Paige Smith with 21 points behind 6/7 free throws made, adding eight rebounds, four steals and two assists, followed by Valeria Frias with 11 points, four rebounds and a steal, Aerieana Rodriguez with nine points, nine rebounds, three steals and an assist, and Sheridan Neal with eight points, six rebounds, three assists and a steal.
The win marks the Lady Panthers’ 12th straight, improving them to 27-7 overall and advances them to the Regional Semifinals Round of the playoffs.
“I am just proud of how tough my girls are,” Lady Panthers Head Basketball Coach Madison Ortega said. “They are playing very physical, great basketball right now and I am excited to keep battling with them.”
Their next battle comes against Texline early in the week at Tascosa High School. Texline comes into the matchup at 22-11 overall on a 14-game win streak and as the undefeated 1A District 3 Champions.