By ALEC ETHEREDGE | Sports Editor

ALABASTER – The Thompson girls’ basketball team has had an up and down basketball season so far falling flat in some games, but looking like an elite team in other games. On Friday, Dec. 9, the Lady Warriors hosted Pelham in a tough rivalry matchup that could’ve been a let-down game for Thompson had they struggled with the winless Panthers. Instead they had one of their impressive outings as they beat Pelham 47-33 behind 36 first half points.

Thompson (5-4) came out with a winning attitude in the first quarter posting their highest point total of the night with 20 points in the quarter. Five different Warriors scored with none scoring more than Brooklyn Oden’s five points. At the end of one they had built a 20-6 lead after holding Pelham to just three field goals in the quarter.

The second quarter was much of the same as Thompson had six different girls score on their way to a 16-point quarter with Brooklyn Oden’s six points leading the way yet again. The Lady Warriors had built up a 36-13 halftime lead behind some strong defensive play and great teamwork on the offensive side of the ball.

Offensive production in the second half was at a minimum for both sides as Thompson head coach JoVanka Ward played a lot of her bench players. They still had four different girls score in the third quarter, but were held to just two field goals and six points. The good thing for Thompson was that it would’ve taken a huge come back from Pelham to fall behind, which wasn’t going to happen with the way the Warriors defense was playing. They held the Panthers to just one field goal and six points as well in the quarter and left the third still maintaining a 23-point lead.

The fourth was very similar to the third as a lot of bench players played for Thompson, the effort of which Ward was visibly pleased with. Thompson was held to just two field goals and five points in the quarter. Pelham had their best quarter of the night as three different players scored on the way to 14 closing-quarter points. The final effort wasn’t enough however, but was the best the Panthers have looked this season as they were penetrating the lane and making good passes.

On the night 11 of the Warriors’ 13 players scored in a very balanced scoring attack. Brooklyn Oden led the way with 11 points, while Niya Oden added nine. Jamila Wilson led the Panthers with 15 points, 11 of which came in the second half.