Lady Panthers Poised To Make A Run At A State Title
The Tug Valley Lady Panthers came into the season with high expectations. The team made a run all the way to the Class A state title game before falling to Gilmer County. With only one senior departure, expectations were high in Naugatuck, but the Lady Panthers have put together another stellar season and seem poised to make a run at the program’s second ever state title.
“I think that we caught pretty much the whole state off guard last year,” said Tug Valley head coach Seth Ooten. “But they worked very hard last year, and I think that carried over to this season. They have given a great effort in practice and during the offseason. We’ve had some close losses, but I think that’s helped our team to get them ready for postseason play.
The Lady Panthers beefed up their schedule this season, but the team has responded with a 17-4 record in regular season play. It’s something that Ooten hopes will prepare his team for the tough games ahead.
“We tried to work the schedule to get us prepared,” said Ooten. “I don’t think you can worry about wins and losses. Your goal is to win a state championship. If you’re worried about your wins and losses and how it’s going to look, I don’t think you’re doing yourself any favors. You want to get your team ready for the games at the end of February and into March. Adding some AA and AAA teams and going into Kentucky has really helped us.”
The Lady Panthers’ nemesis the last two seasons has been a powerful Gilmer County squad. After losing to them in the state title game last season and earlier this season at home, Tug Valley’s team got a big boost when they knocked off Gilmer County on the road, 42-39. It is a win that Ooten feels gave his squad a boost of confidence.
“You have to go do it,” said Ooten. “You can say it, but at the end of the day, those are just words. I feel like they kind of got the monkey off their back. It was a big relief. You could see it on their faces after the game. It’s good to win there. It gives them some confidence, but you can’t hang your hat on that and feel like you’re finished. I think they’ve done a great job of continuing to work hard to get back to the state tournament and make another run at it.”
The Lady Panthers rely on balance. That has been one thing that has made them difficult to defend. Tug Valley has 6 players who average at least 5.8 points per game. Haven Deskins is the team’s leading scorer at 13.8 points per game. Bailee Hall is averaging 10.0 points and 14.4 rebounds per game. Katie Hall is nearly averaging a double-double with 9.4 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. Kylie DeBoard averages 9.2 points per game. Katelynn Richardson is averaging 5.9 points per game. And Gracie Hynd averages 5.8 points per game.
The Lady Panthers are currently the 2nd seed in the Class A Region IV Tournament and will face Calhoun County in the opening round on Thursday. Ooten says that if feels a bit different approaching the postseason after last season’s experience.
“They kind of know what to expect,” added Ooten. “We’ve worked the entire year, thinking about it. If we make it back to the state tournament, I don’t think there will be as many surprises this year. I think that experience is important for our players, but it is important for me too. I’ve been there as a player and have been there as a coach. There’s a lot to it. It’s emotionally draining. When you continue to win, it doesn’t get easier. If we’re fortunate enough to make it, we’ll be better prepared for it.”
For now, the Lady Panthers are focused on the regional tournament and being able to play their postseason games in Naugatuck.
“It’s certainly one of the bigger advantages,” noted Ooten. “You don’t want to be on the road. We talk about handling noise, even at home. I think our girls have handled it all well with all of the distractions. Playing in Naugatuck is one of the bigger distractions, so I’m glad that this is our home, and we’re not the ones having to come to Naugatuck.”
PHOTO CREDIT: Karen Watts
D&D Sports Network
Admin of the platform sharing latest updates.