The South Iron Panthers had just one game this week due to a stretch of inclement weather that dumped all over the area, and the results of that matchup were eerily similar to mother nature’s downpour. The Boys Varsity squad traveled to Clearwater and blanketed the clearly outmatched 4-11 Tigers, 71-38.
The win marked the 12th in a row for the Panthers and gave them yet another perfect week since the elements caused the next game against Park Hills Central to be rescheduled. As for their matchup against the Tigers, it couldn’t have gone any smoother as South Iron jumped out to a 20-11 lead in the first quarter. They then followed that up with a similar 19-12 mark in the second and coasted into the half with a more than comfortable 39-23 lead.
Head Coach Dusty Dinkins didn’t likely have to say much during his halftime speech, but however many words were spoken it did the trick. The Panthers came out in the third and kept the line moving with another dominant frame. They poured in another 19 points and held the Tigers to just 10 to extend their already insurmountable lead. In the fourth South Iron took their foot off the gas offensively but stayed sharp on defensive, limiting Clearwater to a meager five points. After another 13 of their own, the Panthers found themselves with a drama-free 71-38 win.
South Iron was accurate from the field in this one making 22-of-36 2-PT FGs and also buried a trio of shots from beyond the arc. They also had just 10 turnovers and managed to go a precise 18-of-20 from the charity stripe, while the defense stepped up as well with eight steals and 31 rebounds.
Individually this was Champ McMurry‘s time to shine, leading the Panthers with 21 points and eight rebounds. DJ Prater had eight boards as well and drained 16 points with four assists, while Drenin Dinkins had 17 points, five rebounds, a pair of treys and was a perfect 5-for-5 from the line.
A dozen straight wins is nothing to sneeze at, and the Panthers are rolling right now with the payoffs around the corner. They’ll get a little break thanks to the weather and will tip off next at Eminence on 2/8.
