Lady Panthers Endure Rough Week

Northern Bedford’s girls’ basketball squad could not overcome offensive struggles in a 49-29 home loss to Forbes Road Dec. 9.

Forbes Road took a slight lead early in the game and benefitted from a scoreless Lady Panther second quarter to take an 18-10 halftime lead.

The Lady Panthers made a run in the third period and closed the gap on several occasions but could never get closer than four points.

Madison Johnson, who paced the Lady Panthers with seven points, fouled out early in the fourth period.

“The effort is there but we are struggling to put the ball in the hoop,” NB coach Jon Ewart said.

Lydia Ritchey scored 15 points to pace NB’s JV squad to a 47-14 win in the preliminary game.

Lady Panthers Scalped By Lady Indians, 53-34

Northern Bedford was able to keep things through much of the third quarter but visiting Southern Fulton gradually pulled away for a 53-34 ICC South victory Dec 11.

The Lady Panthers pulled as close as 21-16 early in the third period but the Lady Indians found their groove and raced to a 36-22 lead by the end of the third.

Allie Snider’s 11 point effort paced NB.

“We turned the ball over 30 times and we’ve got to cut that way down if we’re going to win games,” Ewart said. “We can’t afford that many missed scoring opportunities, we have to take better care of the ball.”

SF also took the JV contest 48-23. Lydia Ritchey had seven points for the JV Lady Panthers.

Lady Eagles Fly By Lady Panthers, 68-38

Host Somerset used a huge third-quarter edge en route to a 68-38 win over Northern Bedford Dec. 13.

The Lady Panthers put up a gallant effort in the first half against the Class 4A Lady Eagles. The first quarter ended in a 12-12 deadlock with Somerset pulling ahead 26-19 at the half.

The third quarter is when the game got away from Northern. A 24-8 advantage by the Lady Eagles translated into an insurmountable 50-27 edge going into the final frame.

“We battled early and played pretty well, particularly defensively. They came out strong in the second half and we just couldn’t hang in,” Ewart said.

Allie Snider had nine points for NB while Madison Johnson added eight.

Olivia Higgins had 14 points to pace NB in the preliminary game but the Lady Panther JV’s also fell, 49-32.