Lady Panthers show improving eff ort in games
MARTIN COUCH Sports editor

COACH PATRICIA HENDRIX PHOTO Benton Lady Panthers head coach Jerry Chumley talks to his team during a timeout. The Lady Panthers have won three 6A-South conference

The Benton Lady Panthers chipped away at a 19-point Sheridan Lady Yellowjackets lead in the first half to cut the game to five points after an 18-2 run, but eventually fell 53-38.

"It was there for the taking and we couldn't put the ball in the hole," said Lady Panthers head coach Jerry Chumley. "We couldn't hit a 3-pointer, but we cut their lead down. We gave 100 percent effort in the first half, but they bombed in two 3-pointers in a row on us to pull away. We fought back, but they made their shots and we couldn't get it in from anywhere. It was bad shooting instead of turnovers."

The Lady Panthers were down 32-21 at halftime, but six points from Mattison Chilton cut the Sheridan lead to 32-27. The Lady Yellowjackets came back to hit two straight 3-pointers before Mandi Haltom answered with a 3-pointer. Following a technical foul on Benton,

Sheridan moved out to a 48- 30 lead, until Julie Davis hit a shot from the wing. Davis followed with a 3-pointer to make it a 49-37 game and Haltom added another basket before the end of the game to make it 53- 38.

In the early stages of the game, Sheridan went up 8-3, but Brittany Westerman hit a short jumper to make it a three-point game. Westerman led Benton with 12 points.

The Lady Panthers ran into one of the upper level teams of the 6A-South Conference and nearly couldn't get a shot off against the Lake Hamilton Lady Wolves in the first half.

The Lady Panthers trailed 10- 0 before Joanna Curtis was able to sink a free throw.

Westerman added a basket and Curtis scored again to make it a 15-5 game by the end of the first quarter.

Defensively Chilton got a blocked shot for the Lady Panthers and Haltom scored off the offensive boards, but Lake Hamilton continued to score and led 19-7.

Westerman hit her second basket of the game against the taller Lady Wolves, then Chilton scored, but Lake Hamilton came back with a three-point play. Westerman added a basket, but a 3-pointer from the Lady Wolves made for a 31-13 halftime lead.

It didn't get much better in the third period as the Lady Panthers fell even further behind, 36-16 after Haltom hit a 3-pointer. Curtis made two free throws, but that was all of the scoring in the period for the Lady Panthers, who trailed 45- 18 after three quarters.

Ellyn Fier added a basket , Westerman scored and Sarah Seawright hit a 3-pointer to account for all of Benton's scoring in the fourth period. Lake Hamilton won the game 55-25.