Lady Panthers beat Gainesville

With a lead that hit 25 points in the fourth quarter, the Mountain Grove Lady Panthers’ basketball team held off a late Gainesville charge for a 75-64 victory in their season opener at the Arena last week.
After Gainesville scored the opening basket, the Lady Panthers responded with an 8-0 run thanks to the help of Rowen Kelly’s 3-pointer.
Up 13-9, Mountain Grove went on a 7-0 run to go up 25-14. Sadie Schober scored 10 points in the frame while Kelly hit two 3-pointers for eight points.
Mountain Grove’s offense struggled in the second quarter, making just 3-of-19 shots from the field.
The Lady Bulldogs outscored the Lady Panthers, 13-5, in the second quarter to close the gap to 30-28 at halftime. During that frame, Stella Benson picked up her fourth foul and Schober picked up number three.
The Lady Bulldogs took a one-point lead to start the third quarter before Hadley Driskill assisted Schober for a 3-pointer.
Schober would later add a 3-point play and Marli Melton would score before Benson’s 3-pointer during a 12-0 run to go up 54-39.
Mountain Grove outscored Gainesville 24-11 in the third quarter before opening the fourth on a 9-3 run.
Kelly’s 3-pointer pushed the edge to 25 at 68-43 as Mountain Grove began putting the bench players into the game.
Gainesville went on a 21-7 run, but lost by 21.
The Lady Panthers’ offense made 19-of-39 shots from the field in the second half. Meanwhile, the Lady Panthers’ defense forced 20 turnovers in the win. Schober led Mountain Grove with 23 points, seven rebounds, six assists and two steals; Kelly tallied 20 points, six rebounds, five steals and three assists; Benson had 15 points, six rebounds, Melton had 12 points, eight rebounds and one assist; Driskill added three points, five assists; three steals and two rebounds; and Briley Curtiss added two points and three rebounds.
The Lady Panthers will be competing in the Marshfield Tip Off Tournament from Dec. 1-5.