Last night Western hosted Coldwater for their final home game of the season.  The Panthers were looking for a little revenge as they lost to Coldwater in the opening game of the season a few weeks back.

 

Defense for both teams was the story of the first quarter.  Dom Galloway scored a basket just seconds after the tip on a nice pass from Lincoln Warner that made the score 2-0.  This would be a lead that the Panthers would never relinquish, though the game would remain close to the end.  The defenses were tough for both teams throughout the remainder of the first quarter with the Panthers holding a 9-6 lead at the end of the quarter.  

 

The Cardinals scored quickly coming out in the second quarter to make it a 1-point game, but on the next trip down the floor Wyatt Bell drilled a 3-pointer to widen the gap to 4.  The Panthers were able to extend the lead in the middle of the second quarter.  A nice runner in the lane from Lincoln Warner made the score 17-12 while Galloway added the next 4 points, but a late bucket by Coldwater made the score 21-14 at halftime.  

 

The Panthers tried to put the game away several times in the second half, but each time they would extend the lead the Cardinals would fight to stay alive.  The teams traded baskets early in the third quarter and then Logan Young sank a 3-pointer to extend the Panther lead to 28-19 midway through the third quarter.  Coldwater scored the next 5 points to cut the score to 28-24.  With the help of another 3-pointer from Young, the Panthers scored the next 6 points to once again extend their lead to 10 at 34-24.  A quick 5 points by Coldwater that included a controversial buzzer beater that was counted to finish out the third quarter made the score 34-29 going into the fourth quarter.

 

Coldwater notched the first bucket of the quarter and the lead for the Panthers was now just 3.  Galloway decided to put the team on his back and scored the next 6 points of the game.  Joel Toyer added a bucket to cap the Panthers run and extend the Panthers lead to 9 at 42-31.  Coldwater scored the next 5 to cut the lead to 42-36, but that was as close as they would get as the Panthers added a few free-throws down the stretch and the game ended with a 45-36 Panthers victory.

 

For the second time in three games, Dom Galloway was an absolute beast.  He had 28 points on an efficient 11-15 night from the field and added 10 rebounds and 4 blocks.  Logan Young added 10 points and 8 rebounds.  However, it was on defense where Young made his real impact on the game.  Young was tasked with a tough assignment on defense and did exactly what the team needed of him as he worked his tail off all game on the defensive end.  At times, Carter O'Connell took the place of Young with that particular assignment and the team did not miss a beat as he also worked extremely hard while also grabbing a season high 6 rebounds.  Between those two, they were able to shut down Coldwater's best player for the game.  Ethan Harris and Lincoln Warner led the Panthers with 4 assists apiece.

 

The win evens the Panthers record at 5-5 and they travel to Pennfield on Monday to finish their season