By JOSH ETHRIDGE/For the Reporter

The Pelham Panthers played host to the Thompson Warriors, Dec 3. The Warriors got off to a blazing start and left the rival Panthers in the dust, finishing with a final score of 61-25.

Thompson’s Brittany Grice kicked off the scoring for the evening with a layup making the score 2-0 early on. Moments later Kelsea Bivins added two free throws putting Thompson ahead 4-0. Pelham’s Kelsie Jacks scored on a layup giving the Panthers their only points of the first quarter.  Thompson ended the quarter on a 13-point run which included a three point shot by Lauren Black, her first of five in the game.

Pelham started off the second quarter with a layup, but Thompson followed that up with another run, this time 6-points.  Later in the quarter, down 29-5, the Panthers showed signs of life as they scored on a three followed up by two Jacks free throws, making the score 29-10.  Thompson’s Miyel Miller answered with a driving layup going the other way. The Warriors closed the half with a jumper by Brittany Grice and a free throw from Janese Richardson. At the break the score was 34-10 Warriors.

After intermission the Panthers started to find their stroke as they scored 14 of their 25 points in the third quarter. However, Black put to rest any hope of a comeback as she hit three consecutive three-point shot’s for the Warriors. THS headed into the final quarter leading 49-22.

Thompson began the fourth quarter with a 12-point run, extending their lead to 37. The run included eight straight points scored by Richardson. Pelham scored the last points of the game on a free throw making the final score 61-25.

“I thought we came out lethargic early and didn’t play with the intensity we needed to early, but we picked it up in the second half and played better later“ said Thompson head coach Josh Golden.

Pelham head coach Adam Brown was complimentary of Thompson’s athleticism.

“They are an athletic team, they are going to always out rebound every team they play,” said Coach Brown. “Defensively I think we played well for a couple quarters, but offensively we needed to be more patient.”

Lauren Black led Thompson with 16 points, while Myesa Pelton added 13 and Richardson had eight.

For Pelham,  Jacks finished with nine points.