Whiteout Boosts Panthers to Win

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Laqwitha Thomas, Sports Editor
February 15, 2012
Filed under Sports, Top Stories

The Jan. 27 basketball game at Panther Gym seemed more like a football game at Abe Martin, according to head basketball coach J.T. McManus. When the final buzzard rang, and the score was in favor of the Panthers, fans stormed the court overjoyed by the win.

Top scorer, senior Taurus Roberson, and the rest of the team felt motivated by all the supporters who decorated the whole gym with white posters and also dressed in white clothes.

“Hearing all the fans screaming and looking around seeing all of the white encouraged us to play hard,” Roberson said. “We didn’t want to let the fans down.”

Even the drum line was a part of the support system Friday night. According to drum line member Kaylin Martinez, when they played ‘everyone got crunk’.

“All of the support makes the team feel like they can do anything, and that they are the best,” Martinez said.

The master mind of the whole performance, freshman coach Clinton Shelton, thought of the idea to boost fans’ spirits and make a lasting impression.

“I did it to get the kids excited and to give them something to remember,” Shelton said.

McManus agreed that the support of the fans helped push and motivate the Panthers reach to win.

“The intensity of the crowd made the team put in more effort which, in the end, got us the win,” MacManus said.

This was a very important game for the Panthers to win, because it improved their chance of going to the playoffs. According to McManus, the team hasn’t been to playoffs in three years and since has seen the team play cohesively.

“The teams are playing a lot more together, and it’s just a good group of young men,” MacManus said. “Every one understands their role and tries to play it as well as they can.”

According to McManus, if the Panthers go out on the court and handle business, they will be going to playoffs after their last three district games. Before playoff season begins, the Panthers will face Oak Ridge, Kingwood, and College Park.