A fast start by the host Paulding Panthers was too much for the Continental High Girls to overcome in the non-league battle on Saturday. The Panthers opened the game up by scoring the first 8 points. A pair of free throws by Addyson Armey stopped the Panther opening run. Panthers 8, Pirates 2. A 3 by the Panthers was matched by 3 from the Pirates with Madelyn Potts making a basket and Madi Sharp making a free throw. Panthers 8, Pirates 5. The Panthers would put in the 3 more points to finish the quarter with 14 to the Pirates 5.
Pirate Armey opened up the second quarter scoring by hitting a basket to cut the Panther lead to 7. A Panther 3 point play was matched by 3 Pirate free throws (1 from Catelyn Etter and 2 by Sharp) to make it 17-10 Panthers. A Panther basket was followed up by a Pirate basket from Katie Keller to make it 19-12 Panthers. A 5 point Panther run was stopped when Kerri Prowant hit a basket. Panthers 24, Pirates 14. A basket by the Panthers was followed by a pair of free throws from Sharp to finish the half. Panthers 26, Pirates 16.
Pirate Keller would hit a free throw to open up the second half scoring. Panthers 26, Pirates 17. Five straight baskets by the Panthers would make it a 19 point game 36-17 Panthers. The Panther run was stopped when Armey hit a 3. Panthers 36-20. Five more points by the Panthers was followed by a Keller basket to finish the quarter at Panthers 41, Pirates 22.
The fourth quarter saw the Pirates outscore the Panthers by 6. As the Pirates put in 11 (Armey 6, Prowant 1, Etter 2, and Hoeffel 2). Panthers 46, Pirates 33 final.
Addyson Armey led the Pirates with 13 points, Katie Keller and Madi Sharp 5 each. Kerri Prowant had 3, Madelyn Potts and Alex Hoeffel 2 each. Armey hit the only three-pointer for the Pirates.
Continental falls to 4-12 and will host Leipsic in a rescheduled game on Monday. This will be Senior night. This is also a rematch of the Ayersville Holiday Tournament Semifinal which had the Vikings prevail 40-31. Paulding improves to 8-11.
–Mike Jones, Sportswriter
