Bi-District win sets up matchup between two McDonald All- Americans

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Senior Madison Townley presses past a Southlake defender during their Bi-District matchup. (Karla Estrada Photo)

The Duncanville Pantherettes faced the Southlake Carroll Lady Dragons in the bi-district matchup and punched their ticket to a big third round game with a 71-26. The team will now face off against a powerful Flower Mound who features the number 1 player in the according to ESPN 2016 HoopGurlz Recruiting.

The Pantherettes played a sluggish first half with many turnovers and low field-goal percentage against the Lady Dragons. The score in the first half was 30-17, which is not Pantherette basketball. After halftime, the Pantherettes looked to have their minds back in the game. The team picked up the pace by forcing turnovers, knocking down shots, and playing sweet transition basketball. By the end of the game, the Pantherettes caused at least 20 turnovers and held the Lady Dragons to only nine points in the second half.

The Pantherettes will have their hands full with a matchup between two McDonald All- American Players Cierra Johnson and Cox who signed her letter of intent to Baylor University. Cox averages 21.7 points, 15.3 rebounds and 5.4 blocks per game and also won the Gatorade player of the year in Texas. She won three gold medals with USA Basketball and her list goes on as does Cierra’s.

The Pantherettes have faced the Lady Jaguars already in the Frisco ISD tournament defeating them 60-33 holding the Lady Jaguars star to only nine points. In Flower Mound’s most recent bi-district game cox Hit 32 points, brought down19 rebounds and had four blocks. This should be a good game for the books seeing that the Pantherettes very own Ciera Johnson is facing Cox for the last time before they battle against each other in the McDonald’s All-American game in Chicago,IL and this will be one of these players’ last high school basketball game.

The Pantherettes have to defeat the Lady Jaguars to advance to the regional quarterfinal. If they advance they will be just four games away from the 2015-16 UIL State Championship game in San Antonio, TX. This would give them their third appearance in four years.

If they want to make it to state they can’t have sluggish starts with this Lady Jaguar team like they had with Southlake Carroll. They have to dominate this game in all aspects for all 40 minutes and take no rest and relax time from the game.

At this point it is win or go home and after suffering a loss earlier to Duncanville, the Jaguars will definitely be looking to send them home with a 33-1 record. I’m sure Cox will like a little revenge and give the Pantherettes their first loos on the season and a stunning kick out of the playoffs. Show time is set for 6:30 p.m. at L.D. Bell High School Friday night.