Another loss by Lady Panthers keeps team winless

By Andre Jones | February 8, 2018 10:23 pm

Charles City's Cheyanne Marshall (32) makes her move to the basket between Middlesex's Sarah Walton (12) and Taniaya Dandridge (35).

Andre' Jones photo

Charles City’s Lady Panthers searched for every way possible to garner a win in a Feb. 8 matchup with Middlesex’s Lady Chargers. Unfortunately for the hosts, a lack of experience and inability to put the ball in the hoop echoed what has been a dismal year for the Lady Panthers.

The Lady Chargers had no problem trouncing Charles City 66-27 in the home finale in the Tidewater District contest.

Early on, Lady Panther Cheyenne Marshall’s putback knotted the game at two apiece. But that would be the only true threat Charles City posed to Middlesex. The visitors Lyndsay Greene scored 12 of her team’s 15 points in the first quarter, including eight of them as part of a 13-3 run to end the opening frame.

In the second quarter, Middlesex’s Emilie Smith became the offensive cog, scoring six points and assisting on another to keep the guests ahead comfortably. On the opposite end, Charles City’s only scores came from free throws by Alexis Williams and a Marshall bank shot. But not even those hoops could dent into the guests lead, which was 33-9 by the end of the second quarter.

Middlesex scored the first six points to open the third before Williams’ three halted the run. But the guests pushed the pedal to the floor in putting together a 14-3 run to make sure the contest didn’t get any closer the rest of the way.

After the contest, Lady Panther head coach Antoine King reflected on the season.

“We learned a lot this season,” he said. “Next year, we are going to have to start earlier to get better.

“I will have a new bunch and they have to learn their part,” King continued. “Even with me, being on this side [as a coach] it is definitely a different side and there are a lot of things I learned as well.”

If all holds to fruition, Charles City will return all five starters next year to build upon, something King is looking forward to.

“We are going to get better and we are going to learn how to play this game,” he concluded.

Charles City (0-15) received 12 points from Skye Bradby, nine from Williams, and six from Marshall.

Middlesex’s Greene led all scorers in the game with 14.