Panthers lose 65-43 to Christian in sectionals
The PHS varsity boys basketball team’s first playoff run ended abruptly at Christian High School in O’Fallon last Tuesday with a convincing 65-43 loss in the Class 3 sectionals.
Palmyra’s Aaron Stamper (left) and Abe Haerr (right) compete for a rebound during their sectional game at Christian High School last Tuesday.
The Eagles, featuring a fast-paced and aggressive game at both ends of the floor, scored six points before the Panthers could get the ball into their end of the court en route to a 17-6 lead after one quarter and a 39-17 halftime edge.
Despite dim prospects to come back, the Panthers fought hard to avoid a turbo clock and even out-score their opponents, 28-26 in the second half.
The Eagles (20-5) saw their season come to an end three days later in the quarterfinals when they lost Friday in a 51-49 thriller.
Monroe City (26-2) advances to the semifinals this Friday, when they play in Springfield and play Summit Christian Academy (21-4).
The Panthers ended the season with a 14-9 record that included the program’s first district title in seven years along with two other tournament title game appearances.
Tuesday’s game was the final one for the team’s five seniors, Abe Haerr, Zane Meyers, Quade Plunkett, Aaron Stamper and Bennett Stice.
Meyers sank four of the team’s six three-pointers and led the team with 14 points, while Haerr had six and Stamper four.
Also scoring for Palmyra were Bear Bock, nine, Alex Loman, seven, and Laydin Lochman, two.
The Eagles hit six of their 10 three-pointers in the first half, including several from well outside the arc.
In Class 3 sectional action Wednesday, Clark County defeated Duchesne, 42-22, but then fell in the quarterfinals Saturday to Tipton, 60-46.
