Panthers head north

By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer

The lady Panthers head into uncharted territory on Thursday as they face teams in the regional tournament they haven’t seen this season.

With a 7:15 p.m. tip off on Thursday at Torrington High School, the game against the Hulett Red Devils should be a good one, as the teams are well-matched, Saratoga High School coach Amy Davis said. Not very big, the Devils pack a punch with their speed, which mirrors the assets of the Panthers.

Still, Davis expects a tough one. In order to advance, “we will have to play at the top of our game,” she said.

If her ladies move forward, they play at 3:45 p.m. on Friday. Davis anticipates meeting Arvada-Clearmont in the quarterfinals if the Panthers make it that far. If they don’t, their game is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Friday.

“They’re tough,” Davis said of Arvada. The 2A state champions last year, Arvada has all five starters returning to the tournament this year. “They and Southeast will be the toughest two teams,” she said. The Panthers met Southeast once in the regular season and lost. They can only meet in the final game of the regional tournament.

Saratoga will have to step up to overcome the odds. Three weeks ago, the team lost its center to a knee injury, which she had surgery on recently. As one of the top three shooters, the loss hurts the team. However, Davis remains hopeful. She has filled the position and altered her strategy and her players’ positions to accommodate.

The Panthers go into this tournament youthful and inexperienced. Four freshmen, one sophomore, one junior and one senior make up this year’s regional team, forming a total of three who have seen playing time in the final tournament of the season.

“It’s a little to our disadvantage (to not have an older team),” Davis said, “but then again, it may be to our advantage... (the team) won’t know what to expect.” The Panthers go into the tournament with the philosophy that what they don’t know can’t hurt them. They plan to just play basketball to win.