The Panthers basketball team will head into the first round of the playoffs against Killeen Ellison Monday night at McClennan Community College at 7:00.. Killeen Ellison might be a challenge for the Panthers because of their great shooter senior guard Malik Hawkins who averages 18 points a game. The Panthers however are coming out of a district that is home to three of two of the top three teams in the state and have been to overtime with both teams. They have played against tough players in Matt Jones, a McDonald All-American selection from DeSoto and South Grand Prairie’s senior guards Mark Howell and Trey Hall who also put huge points up against the Panthers.
“We have been studying a lot of film on this team,” head coach Danny Henderson said. “We are also working hard on the floor preparing for the game.”
The Panthers will need the whole team to step up and work together to give them a chance at the second round. They will need big defensive contributions from junior Omar Sherman, senior Jeremy Grace and Mathew McQuaid. They could also use some help offensively from Grace, McQuaid and senior Renard Green from the baseline.
“We have to execute our offenses and take care of the ball.” Henderson said.
Because of the Panther’s tough district stacked with talented players and skilled teams they should be ready for anything they face this week or later in the playoffs. The Panthers are coming off of some big overtime games with DeSoto and South Grand Prairie who only defeated the Panthers by a small margin.
“This district prepares you for the fire.” Henderson said.
And the fire is what our Panthers will have to bring to move to the later rounds of the playoffs. To win this game they will need strong defensive plays. Players like sophomore Matt McQuaid and junior Omar Sherman will need to step up with their defense to keep Hawkins from scoring like he normally does. As for offense, expect to see Grace and Sherman going to the rim often against Ellison’s defense.
But as Coach Henderson said, “We are taking it one game at a time.”
The game is Monday, February 18th at McClenan College at 7:00. So show up and support our Panthers in the first round playoff game!
