Panthers’ shot at ‘repeat’ starts tonight in regional tournament

Magnolia G Colby Garland (23) fires up the crowd after halftime at Magnolia's final regular-season home game on Feb. 18, 2020.
Magnolia G Colby Garland (23) fires up the crowd after halftime at Magnolia's final regular-season home game on Feb. 18, 2020.

Magnolia’s Ben Lindsey has been preaching “one game at a time” all season to his Panthers.

That familiar quote has a deeper meaning today if Panthers hope to get an opportunity to defend their Class 4A state basketball title.

The Class 4A South Region Basketball Tournament starts today at Crossett and the Panthers will play their first game at 5:30 p.m. against fourth-seed Bauxite from the 4A-7 Conference.

They must win that battle to earn a spot in next week’s Class 4A State Tournament at Farmington.

A year ago, Magnolia won its first round game in region, but lost in the second round before moving on to win the state crown.

With a perfect record on the line, Lindsey said everything comes down to a one-game season at this point.

“At least for Wednesday (today), you have a one game season. It’s all about 32 minutes. Any team across the state doesn’t have to be the better team; they just have to be the best for one night and that 32 minutes,” he explained.

The coach admitted there’s a lot of pressure on a team that’s 21-0, but he likes the way his squad is playing right now.

“For us, it’s all about coming out, being loose and doing what we’ve been doing all year,” said the coach. “Knock on wood, we are also healthy.”

Regional baskeball tournaments start today around the state. Magnolia is playing in the Class 4A South Region at Crossett with the unbeaten Panthers taking on Bauxite at 5:30 p.m. today. The Lady Panthers play at 4 p.m. Thursday against Mena. In Class 1 Region 4 at Caddo Hills in Norman, the top-seed Emerson Lady Pirates take on Blevins at 4 p.m. today, while the Nevada Blue Jays play Ouachita at 8:30 p.m. Thursday. Top-seed Bradley plays Mountain Pine at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Regional baskeball tournaments start today around the state. Magnolia is playing in the Class 4A South Region at Crossett with the unbeaten Panthers taking on Bauxite at 5:30 p.m. today. The Lady Panthers play at 4 p.m. Thursday against Mena. In Class 1 Region 4 at Caddo Hills in Norman, the top-seed Emerson Lady Pirates take on Blevins at 4 p.m. today, while the Nevada Blue Jays play Ouachita at 8:30 p.m. Thursday. Top-seed Bradley plays Mountain Pine at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.

A full-size, downloadable bracket is available here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1DkT6C_NiFvTfFH1MIefU1684IhikdTtL

Lindsey gave his team the weekend off and they returned to the practice floor on Monday. The coach said he wanted his Panthers to have fresh legs heading into the tournament.

The Panthers breezed through the 4A-8 Conference with a perfect 12-0 mark.

On the season, they averaged 70.3 points per game, while giving up an average of 42.1 points on defense.

They closed the regular season Friday at Warren with a 62-39 victory over the Lumberjacks.

Colby Garland led with 21 points, while Derrian Ford followed with 13. Kyle Carver added 12 and Braelyn Beasley finished with 10.

Unlike the first time the when the teams met, with the Panthers winning 24-16, the Lumberjacks opted against the slow down game and tried keeping pace with the Panthers’ up tempo style.

Magnolia quickly opened a 9-0 lead and led 19-7 after the first break. At the half, the Panthers were up 32-31.

They pulled away in the third period and led by as much as 19 points before being up 48-32 at the buzzer.

The lead grew to 26 late in the game before the Panthers won by 23.

“It was a tough one, with the crowd right on you. There was no room on the sideline,” said Lindsey.

The coach said the Panthers, especially Ford, were getting to rim early and shots were falling.

“Derrian have had some tough luck lately with the ball riming out. But he’s almost 99 percent unstoppable when he gets the ball under the basket,” said Lindsey, adding the results are usually points.

Regarding today’s opponent, Bauxite finished 15-12 on the season and 6-6 in league action.

A victory today will put the Panthers into a 5:30 p.m. Friday game against either second-seed Nashville or third-seed Warren.

In other boy’s action, top-seed Malvern will square off against fourth-seed Camden Fairview at 8:30 tonight.

See brackets on Page 4B.

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