Final from this 39th District 2/3 game. The Panthers will play the Winner of Mason County/St. Patrick for the 39th District Title but also is a member of the 10th Region Tournament.

Another fun-filled night for the Augusta Panther community, a group who has had quite a few of these over the past few years.

 

Tonight, the Augusta gals upset the Lady Bears 38-37 in overtime, in an improbable outcome, and then the second shoe drops when the boys, who have obviously reinvented themselves without Camryn Snapp, avenged a 22 point loss sustained at the hands of these same Polar Bears ten days ago. And, did I mention haven't played since that night.

 

Augusta will once again be huge underdogs when they face Mason County (no disrespect St.Pats) in Thursday night's 39th District Championship game. The Panthers are two-time defending district champions.

 

Congrats to the Panthers!!!! Wherever Panther fans go to celebrate, will be busy AGAIN tonight!

Here's papa's take, for what it's worth.

 

Best I can remember, Bracken either never led, or led by a basket early in the game. I don't think Augusta ever trailed after that. I relly think that being there on the big stage helped - even sans Bach and Snapp.

 

Austin Crawford went 6-11 (unofficially) for the game. 0-3 from distance and 6-8 inside. But only 11 shots for Crawford is not a recipe for success. Give a lot of credit to Augusta for that. Straight-up zone early, then a box with a chaser in the second half. Crawford forced to kick it back out on numerous occasions. Nice game from Kolton Williams who stepped up with an additional 14 points. But the Polar Bears looked to be frustrated and out of sync for much of the evening.

 

Role players for the Panthers stepped up in a big way. Shrader with 14, Tucker with 13 and 8 boards (again, unofficial). Solid game for Shoemaker as well, Owens Crawford and Connor Maddox with steady floor games. They don't back down from anybody.

 

Has to be frustrating for my friends from the county school to the west. This was the time for them to get A-Town. Congrats once again to Coach Jason "Big Game" Hinson on advancing to the district final and the regional tourney.

Jason Hinson can flat out coach.

Congrats to the Panthers.

Congrats to the Panthers. They were the better team tonight. They continue to win big games and will give it all they got to win the 39th for a third straight year.

 

In the loss senior Cole Todd played his last game as a Polar Bear, and will move on to other things after graduation. Hes a fine young man and i just hate to see any kids senior yr end. But good luck to him in the future. :thumb:

After falling to the Polar Bears 57-35 at home on the 13th the Panthers did exactly what they needed to do to win this game, get production from guys that didn't produce in the previous game. Nathan Shrader (14), David Tucker (13) and Jared Shoemaker (8) came up huge for Augusta in this one. In Jason Hinson's time at Augusta his teams have been known to bounce back when faced with adversity in big games. They will have their hands full on Thursday night with whomever emerges from the Mason County/St. Patrick game but don't dare count the 2 time defending 39th district champions out.

After falling to the Polar Bears 57-35 at home on the 13th the Panthers did exactly what they needed to do to win this game, get production from guys that didn't produce in the previous game. Nathan Shrader (14), David Tucker (13) and Jared Shoemaker (8) came up huge for Augusta in this one. In Jason Hinson's time at Augusta his teams have been known to bounce back when faced with adversity in big games. They will have their hands full on Thursday night with whomever emerges from the Mason County/St. Patrick game but don't dare count the 2 time defending 39th district champions out.

 

Coach Hinson also said on the post game talk with WFTM, "We didn't do a whole lot of anything on the 13th, we knew that game didn't mean anything. We didn't play to lose, but we ran one offense and one defense that night."

 

So look at that however you would like. :sssh:

Coach Hinson also said on the post game talk with WFTM, "We didn't do a whole lot of anything on the 13th, we knew that game didn't mean anything. We didn't play to lose, but we ran one offense and one defense that night."

 

So look at that however you would like. :sssh:

 

Jason isn't a dummy... flat out-coached Miles last night.

Great job by the "Walking Wounded" Panther team. At the risk of sounding too "Phil Jackson Zenlike", I continue to be amazed at how "winning" promotes "winning". In the past several years Augusta has created a culture where the kids truly believe they're supposed to win and I believe once that's established it is contagious. Against all odds a school with 105 kids in HS expects to compete and beat anybody they play; and happily for us, they have! Congratulations guys.

Great job by the "Walking Wounded" Panther team. At the risk of sounding too "Phil Jackson Zenlike", I continue to be amazed at how "winning" promotes "winning". In the past several years Augusta has created a culture where the kids truly believe they're supposed to win and I believe once that's established it is contagious. Against all odds a school with 105 kids in HS expects to compete and beat anybody they play; and happily for us, they have! Congratulations guys.

 

Agree 100 percent.

Was following LCD's updates while on the road last night (thanks for that, LCD). Really hoped the Polar Bears could pull this one off & advance to another Regional tourney, but it just wasn't to be. But this team will return a lot next year & I look for them to make a lot of progress in the off season. In spite of this loss, the boys had a nice little run to end the season & can hopefully build on that.

 

Many congrats to Coach Hinson & the Panthers. Those kids were able to overcome a lot & continue the post-season success they have enjoyed of late.

At the risk of sounding too "Phil Jackson Zenlike", I continue to be amazed at how "winning" promotes "winning". In the past several years Augusta has created a culture where the kids truly believe they're supposed to win and I believe once that's established it is contagious. .

 

The biggest obstacle to overcome, but once it is overcome, you are right...its contagious.

 

Congrats Augusta.