Coach Chris Clark and his Gold Beach Lady Panthers hosted the 6-3 Waldport Lady Fighting Irish, Saturday afternoon as 2021 school sports programs continue to their conclusions even after the school year has ended.
Waldport and the Lady Panthers met earlier in the season and the Lady Irish handed the Lady Panthers one of their only two losses of the season, and the Lady Panthers took control and set the pace early, closing off the paint to Waldport’s 5′-10 center and running on the Lady Irish defense.
Early in the 1st period, as the Lady Irish forced the ball into their center to establish dominance inside, Waldport had no answer for the Lady Panther’s Kailina Hamilton #10, who dropped four 3 pointers in period for 12 points. However, Hamilton’s 12 points and #24 Cadence Wilstead’s two baskets and 3 pointer gave the Lady Panthers a 21-15 lead after the 1st period.
Going into the 2nd period, Waldport’s coach recognized that Gold Beach’s accuracy behind the arc was going to be a problem and denied the Lady Panthers Hamilton open shots behind the line. However, three other Lady Panthers scored in the 2nd. Sophomore Max Jones #12, sophomore #10 Madi Allen, Junior Jessie Quesada #30 scored, opening up another Hamilton 3 pointer as the Lady Panthers out-scored Waldport 9-7 in the 2nd, taking a 30-22 lead into the half time break.
To start the second half of play, Waldport went back to their original game plan forcing the ball into the paint to take advantage of their height advantage, but coach Clark anticipated the strategy, playing a no-foul defense inside, and shutting down any other shooters allowing only two scorers for only 10 points in the period.
The Lady Panther offense put 4 players on the scoreboard in the 3rd period led by sophomore Gabby Ramos-Perez #5 who hit three baskets and 3 pointer for 9 points. Junior Rosie Springer #20 and sophomore #32 Gabby Clifford scored and the Lady Panthers took a 46-32 lead into the final period.
In the 4th period Waldport doubled down on their gameplan to drive the ball into the lane for lay-ups and to get to the foul-line to close the deficit. The Lady Irish hit 8 of 14 from the foul-line, in their most productive period of play hitting for 17 points in the period.
But the Lady Panthers answered again, getting 7 players on the scoreboard in the period, with #24 Cadence Wilstead and #40 Kaelynn Hamilton hitting 3’s as the Lady Panthers scored 20 in the final quarter of play.
The Lady Panthers outscored Waldport in every period led by junior Kailina Hamilton #10 who scored five 3 pointers and went 4 for 4 from the foul line for 19 points. Sophomore Gabby Ramos-Perez #5 hit 6 baskets and a 3 pointer for 15 points, and junior #24 Cadence Wilstead had two 3 pointers, two baskets and went 2 for 6 from the free-thow line for 12 points, as the Lady Panthers won their second game in row 66-49 on their way to a 8-2 overall record with four games left to play.
The Lady Panthers will be on the road Monday taking on the Reedsport Lady Braves at 7:00pm.
