Menu
Hollywood Ending: Lady Panthers edge Montrose, 44-40, complete sweep of top three seeds to secure GVVC title
BRONAUGH — The Sheldon Lady Panthers’ Cinderella run in the Golden Valley Vernon County Conference basketball tournament culminated with Saturday’s 44-40 title game victory over the top-seeded Montrose Bluejays.
The turnaround has been dramatic for Sheldon, as the Lady Panthers had compiled a 10-76 overall record in its four seasons preceding the 2018-19 campaign.
Sheldon entered the week-long tourney as sixth-seeded underdogs, prevailing over No. 3 Northeast Vernon County, 44-41 in opening-round action Monday, then sending No. 2 Hume packing with a 49-43 semifinal victory Thursday.
TITLE GAME
Sheldon’s top priority was slowing Montrose star forward Abi Vogel, the GVVC’s top all-around-player. In order to contain Vogel, first-year Sheldon head coach Jacob Well went with a heavy dose of 2-3 zone and a box-and-1.
“We used the 2-3 zone more than the box-and-1, but both helped us to be successful (against Vogel),” said Well. “With the box-and-1 we had switched two different players on Abi, and I believe that helped. When she got the ball, it was all hands on deck,” as the Lady Panthers swarmed with consistent double and triple teams.
“The goal was to keep a hand in her face whenever she had the ball, and not allow her to have any open looks,” explained Well.
Vogel, however, dropped in seven first quarter points, as Montrose held a 12-9 advantage entering the second quarter.
A strong defensive showing in the second, combined with a pair of Meckinize McCartney three’s, helped the Lady Panthers to a 17-15 halftime edge. Sheldon came out red-hot in the third, with McCartney knocking down a quick trey.
A key sequence came with 13 seconds remaining in the third, as Sheldon point guard Mahalia Swink connected on 1-of-2 from the charity stripe, missing the second. Madison Garren swooped in for the rebound, with the 5-foot-2 freshman guard kicking out to Swink, who then buried a triple. It was her second of the frame, stretching the Lady Panther lead to 31-23.
“We were able to make key adjustments at halftime,” noted Well, as the Lady Panthers were without All-Conference center Madison Bogart for large stretches of the second and third quarters due to foul trouble.
Well said he had no choice but to pull Bogart after she was hit with her fourth foul early in the third.
“She was an excellent leader on the bench, and was very helpful seeing plays while sitting there,” concluded Well. “That was a big part of our success late in the game. When she went back into the game she kept that leadership up.”
Sheldon increased its advantage to double-digits early in the fourth as Swink found McCartney, whose 18-foot jumper handed the Lady Panthers a 33-23 lead. McCartney’s fourth 3-ball of the game, this time from the left-corner, put Sheldon in front 36-25.
A quick 4-0 Montrose spurt trimmed the deficit to seven, but was quickly followed by a Swink driving lay-in, as the Lady Panthers led 38-29 with four minutes remaining in regulation. Vogel then caught fire as a pull-up jumper, followed by a 3-pointer from the left wing, sliced their deficit to 39-34 with 1:53 to play.
With just seven ticks remaining on the clock, and clinging to a 42-40 advantage, frosh Garren stepped to the line and, with ice-water running through her veins, calmly sank both free throws to seal the victory.
(“Garren) played like an upperclassman,” said Well. “She was composed, and knocked down two clutch free throws.”
McCartney concluded with a team-high 19 points, while fellow junior Swink chipped in 16. For Montrose, Vogel poured in a game-high 23, including nine in the final frame.
“Effort was key to our success tonight,” explained Well. “Meckinize’s offensive output was a big bonus, but the team’s overall defensive effort, and containing Abi as best we could, really helped us win the game. It was a team effort on the defensive side that led us to the championship.”
Added Well: “This championship means everything to these girls and this program. Being able to come in, and change the culture, we’ve (consistently) put in the effort needed to be successful. For me, it means everything as well.”
“Being able to come in as a first-year coach, and watching these girls execute the game-plan, is awesome,” said Well. “I’m proud of them, and can’t wait to see what the rest of the season holds for us.”
Ballard 45, Sheldon 41
Looking to make it a clean sweep, the top-seeded Sheldon Panthers opened the boys GVVC title bout against No. 3 Ballard on a quick 6-0 blitz.
For the next three-and-half quarters, however, it was a major offensive struggle, as the Panthers went ice cold from the field.
Sheldon led 12-10 at the conclusion of the first, and the contest was knotted 22-22 at the break.
With steady point guard play from Jake Light, Ballard executed its offense with efficiency in the second half, and capitalized on its size advantage in the low-post.
Trailing by three near the mid-point of the fourth, Sheldon forward Jason Leavell tied the contest 36-36 after draining a three from the left corner. Both teams went cold from the field over the next two-plus minutes. Ballard then edged in front, with Dylan Tippie’s baseline floater handing the Bulldogs a 40-36 lead with 2:14 left in the fourth.
Sheldon’s last-ditch comeback attempt was snuffed out by a flagrant (technical) foul, sending Ballard to the conference crown.
“The boys battled all game long,” said Well, also the head coach of the Panthers. “Ballard had a great game-plan, slowed us down, and we couldn’t get into transition. They also played really good defense on us throughout, and we couldn’t get the ball into the post.”
Continued Well: “With Ballard playing a 2-3 zone, they were able to make us a perimeter team. It forced us to make outside shots, and we didn’t make enough. Defensively, they got the ball into the post and it hurt us all night. We made some adjustments in the second half that helped slow them down in the lane.”
Said Ballard head coach Troy Englehardt: “We’re not the fastest team on the floor. But we felt like we had an advantage down low, and so that was one of our main priorities, to get the ball down low.”
Englehardt heaped praise on junior point guard Light.
“He sat out two months last year with a broken leg, and really worked hard this off-season. And that’s what this team has been missing for a long time now — a true point guard.”
Other Saturday results
• Hume 40, Ballard 36 2OT (girls’ consolation)
• NEVC 65, Bronaugh 50 (boys’ consolation)
• Bronaugh 32, NEVC 30 (girls’ third-place game)
• Montrose 79, Hume 58 (boys’ third-place game)