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Bland County Coach Jason Lambert consoles Laurel Hankins after the loss to Northwood March 3. Photo by Reece Johnson

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Panthers edge Lady Bears in region championship

By JERRY ORR/Staff

Splitting Group A schools into two divisions for the basketball playoffs has given new life to the Northwood girls’ program.
The Lady Panthers were once regular contenders for the Region C title and won three straight regional championships in the late 1990s, but recently they have struggled against Hogoheegee District competition. This winter they were fifth in the league standings – ahead of only winless Holston – and entered post-season play with an 8-14 record. They then lost to Rural Retreat in the first round of the district tournament.
Nevertheless, with three straight victories, the Panthers now find themselves with a regional championship and a berth in the state quarterfinals.
Northwood beat Bland County 51-50 Monday night at George Wythe in the Region C, Division 1 championship game and will meet Twin Valley Saturday at 2 p.m. at Virginia High in the Group A Division 1 quarterfinals. Bland County will face Rye Cove Saturday in the third of four Division 1 girls’ and boys’ quarterfinals at Virginia High, with the Bears’ game planned for around 6 p.m.
Rye Cove beat Twin Valley 45-42 in OT in the Region D Division 1 title contest.
Northwood’s win over Bland County was also a thriller. The Panthers led 20-4 early in the second quarter and were up by 13 points in the second half, but the Bears clawed back to tie the score at 38-38 late in the third period. An intense battle ensued, with the Panthers never letting their opponent take the lead and Bland County missing a two-point attempt along the baseline at the final buzzer.
“Scared me to death,” Northwood head coach Tammy Gillespie said about the ferocious comeback from a team backed by a large, vocal contingent of fans.
“We knew the momentum was going to shift at halftime,” Gillespie also said. She said the Panthers talked at intermission about taking care of the basketball, “and of course we didn’t do that very well.” She didn’t want to play a stalling game because she said her players tend to make mistakes when they slow the pace.
Bland County suffered mightily with its shooting early. After their comeback, the Bears seemed to lose momentum again when Kelsee Smith canned a three-pointer and then dealt an assist to Kelsie Snodgrass to put the Panthers up 48-42 in the fourth.
The Bears managed another rally, however, and were within 48-46 before Smith hit a free throw and Kimmy Boardwine converted a layup after a Northwood steal to make it 51-46. After Snodgrass picked up her fifth foul while Morgan Brizendine scored off a rebound, the Bears were within 51-50 with 1:52 left.
Smith made two steals in the last half a minute, but missed free throws and turnovers gave Bland County its opportunity for victory. Sara Looney collected the rebound on the last miss at the line with 8.9 seconds left, and the Bears got off a good shot that bounced off as time expired.
“I don’t think I’ve ever played better than that in my entire life,” said Smith, a sophomore who missed part of the season with an injury. She finished with a season-high 15 points and kept making plays when the Bears looked ready to assume control.
Smith said she always plays well at GW. “I just wasn’t expecting it to be this great,” she continued.
Now Northwood takes an 11-15 record into its first state-tourney appearance since 1999. The Division 1 girls’ and boys’ semifinals are scheduled for next Wednesday in Richmond, with the state finals there on Saturday, March 15.
“They had this potential all season. I’m just pleased that they peaked right now,” Gillespie said about her Panthers. “I’m awfully proud of them. They’re a heck of a ball team.”

NORTHWOOD (51)
  Boardwine 2, K. Buchanan 2, Snodgrass 7, A. Buchanan 2, Nutter 20, Smith 15, C. Buchanan 3.
BLAND COUNTY (50)
  Dunn 2, Hankins 7, Brizendine 8, Duncan 0, Mustard 9, Magyar 8, Dillow 5, Neal 2, Looney 6, Williams 3.
Northwood 18 14   9 10—51
Bland County 4 18 16 12—50
  3-point goals – Northwood 6 (Nutter 5, Smith), Bland County 3 (Hankins, Mustard, Magyar).