HOT SPRINGS - For the third time this season, Magnolia (17-5) defeated Hope and secured a spot in next week's Class 5A State Basketball Tournament.
Other than the first couple of minutes, the second-seed Panthers dominated the seventh-seed Bobcats (7-20) Monday night in the opening round of the 5A-South District Tournament.
Winning 47-29, the Panthers will play again at 8:30 p.m. Thursday against the winner of tonight's late game between third-seed Watson Chapel and sixth-seed White Hall.
The title game in the district tournament is set for 8:30 p.m. Friday.
The Bobcats led 4-0 early, but it was the Panthers who were on top 14-9 after the first buzzer.
Magnolia used a 16-0 run in the second period to build a 30-9 advantage and then carried a 32-13 lead into the locker room at half-time.
The Panthers continued to dominate in the third quarter, leading 43-20.
Magnolia had knocked off Hope by scores of 36-31 and 52-37 during the regular season.
Lady Panthers vs.
Lady Leopards
The Magnolia Lady Panthers will look to earn their spot in the state tournament tonight when they take on De Queen at 7 p.m. in Hot Springs.
The Lady Panthers are the sixth-seed team in the district tournament.