Facing the number 6 team in the state in Irving McArthur was one of the first challenges for the Pantherettes in a while as key players faced foul trouble early in the game. Other players from the bench stepped up and helped the team capture win number 101 and move to a match up with one of their District 7-5A opponents South Grand Prairie in the Regional Quarterfinals Tuesday.

In the last district meeting between these two teams, the Pantherettes walked away with a huge 61-36 win over the Warriors.  A win Tuesday would put the girls back into the Regional tournament for the third consecutive time setting up another shot at the State Title in two weeks.

Against McArthur the Pantherettes had a slow start with cold shooting most of the first period of play.  The team made just two of its first 14 shots in the opening quarter. Senior Texas commit Tasia Foman picked up her fourth foul early in the third quarter, and sophomore forward Ciera Johnson, who scored a game-high 19 points against Killeen Harker Heights in win number 100 did the same two minutes later.

With these players in foul trouble, senior guards Adrianna Davis and DeAndra Wheeler, came in and kept the pressure up on defense while combining for 10 points late in the game.

“They stepped up, and they did a great job,” Atkins said. “All of us need to be able to step up at any moment of the game. We trust each other, and all of us can play.”

The Pantherettes finished by matching a season low scoring with the 52-39 victory over the Cardinals.  The game Tuesday will be at Grand Prairie at 7 p.m. With a win the ladies will enter the Regional Tournament this weekend.