With their 39th district championship last week the Augusta Panthers put to rest mentioning of the 1982 season.  The next season to talk about?  1950.  The last time Augusta won a game in the 10th region tournament.  For the third time in Augusta's last 4 regional trips they would face the Scott Eagles.  In the 1st quarter Augusta wouldn't get much offense but what they did get, for the most part, was from freshman Connor Maddox with his 3 three pointers.  The Eagles were out in front 16-11.  In the 2nd quarter Scott's physical defense continued to give the Panthers fits.  Augusta found it hard to get many open looks while the Eagles were strong on the boards keeping the Panthers from getting too many second chances.  Scott would go to the break leading 36-28.

 

      In the 3rd quarter Augusta came out on a mission as Brent Bach scored the first 5 points of second half to make it a 36-33 game prompting a Scott timeout.  The break in action wouldn't help the Eagles too much as they struggled to score, as did Augusta.  The two teams combined for 18 points in the quarter, 11 of them from the Panthers to bring them within 43-39 going into the 4th quarter.  It would be a tight game most of the final period as Augusta stayed close but never could get ahead.  They did make it interesting though.  On numerous occasions the Panthers closed to within 2 points but Scott had an answer for Augusta each time.  Tanner Kelsch hit a three pointer to make it 62-59 and a timeout stopped the game with 0.7 seconds to go.  Augusta got the steal they hoped for but Camryn Snapp was inside the 3 point line and time expired as his shot bounced off the rim.  Augusta ended the season, one of their most memorable, at 21-11.  Brent Bach led the Panthers with 22 points.  Tanner Kelsch added 13 in his final game and Connor Maddox finished with 11. 

    "We played hard, especially in the second half, but just couldn't get any breaks to go our way," said Coach Hinson, "Hate this for our seniors but we'll be back strong next year.  We had a lot of success this season and we'll look to build on that for next year."

 

Scoring vs. Scott:  Bach 22, Kelsch 13, Maddox 11, Snapp 7, Crawford 1