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Published on 03/15/1999 All articles from this issue

Panthers find out good things come in 3s

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By Craig Wentz

Special to the Town Crier

Girls Basketball Div. V Playoffs

Pinewood hits 11 of 15 three-pointers in NorCal final win over Branson

STOCKTON - With its precision offense, accurate three-point shooting and pressure defense, the Pinewood School girls basketball program is enjoying its best season ever.

And now the team is one win away from its first-ever state title.

Last Saturday at Stockton's Delta Community College, the top-seeded Panthers (30-1) jumped out to a surprising 22-2 first-quarter lead and cruised to a 72-43 rout of No. 2 Branson (22-5) in the NorCal Division V championship game.

The win put Pinewood into this Friday's 2:30 p.m. state title game against Chadwick (29-5) of Palos Verdes at Arco Arena in Sacramento.

All season, the Panthers have eyed the state title that eluded them last season after losing in the NorCal finals. So if Pinewood doesn't come home with the state plaque, it will be a major letdown.

"It will be an extreme disappointment if we don't win," said Panthers coach Doc Scheppler. "We have to do a great job of preparing."

Last Saturday, the Panthers peppered Branson in the first quarter with a tight man-to-man defense that forced 10 turnovers and limited the Bulls to one-of-14 shooting.

Pinewood, meanwhile, hit seven of 10 shots - including three three-pointers from senior Antoinette McLean - for the early 20-point lead.

"I thought it would be a close game," Scheppler said. "Our defense was wonderful in the first 16 minutes and we never gave them a sniff of momentum."

Pinewood impressed a big crowd full of Panther supporters by shooting 57 percent from the field for the game, including an eye-popping 11 of 15 from three-point range.

Senior point guard Lauren Smith-Hams led the Panthers with 27 points, seven assists and four steals.

McLean made six of her eight three-point tries for 18 points. Sophomore Sebnum Kimyacioglu added 17 points and five rebounds for the Panthers. As a team, Pinewood recorded 12 steals.

"The key on Friday will be offensive rebounding and it will be a battle of easy scores," Scheppler said. "We have to create easy baskets with our defense."

And if the Panthers do, it will be a short and joyous ride home from Sacramento.

In last Thursday's semifinal against Waldorf (33-3) of Sacramento at Palo Alto High, the Panthers coasted to a 74-55 win. The game was nearly decided at half, as Pinewood led 42-16.

Smith-Hams topped the Panthers with 32 points, which included four three-pointers. Kimyacioglu added 23 points.

Pinewood hit eight three-pointers in all.