Panthers Earn Initial Victory of Campaign

Northern Bedford took an early lead and held on throughout to get their first win of the season, a 60-59 home victory over McConnellsburg on Monday night.

NB took the lead in the first half and led 48-42 entering the fourth period. NB held off McConnellsburg throughout the 4th period and a Spartan 3-pointer in the final seconds cut the lead to one point. NB held on in the final seconds to secure the win.

Dalton Smith (19), Hayden Foor (17), and Caleb Diehl (15) hit for double figures for the Panthers. Smith and Diehl also had double digit rebounds for the 1-8 Panthers.

“We played 4 pretty good quarters of basketball and put some things together tonight,” said Coach Shawn Hicks. “I’m happy for the kids, they’ve been working hard and improving and it paid off tonight. Hopefully this is a stepping stone.”

McConnellsburg won the junior varsity game, 49-31.

Everett 74, NB 36

Northern Bedford fell to 1-10 as a result of a 74-36 road loss at Everett last Friday night, Jan. 11.

The Panthers were competitive with the Inter-County South-leading Warriors in the first half. NB took brief leads at two different junctures during the first five minutes of the contest. The Warriors went on an early second-quarter spurt to take a bigger lead. A Caleb Diehl trey at the first half buzzer made the score 42-28 at the break.

The second half didn’t go as well and the Warriors suffocating defense gave NB problems as they built the lead to as big as 72-32 by the mid-fourth period.

Diehl had 18 points to pace the Panthers.

“I though we executed pretty well offensively most of the first half, but then their physical style and experience wore us down,” NB coach Shawn Hicks said.

Everett also won the junior varsity game.