Parma upends Weiser
Sunday, November 26, 2006 1:40 AM PST
Ronald Bond
Argus Observer
Weiser
Parma’s Whitney Rohrbacher and Logan Smyser scored 11 points apiece as the Panthers came back from an early deficit to knock off Weiser 45-37 Saturday night in nonleague girls basketball action at Weiser High School.
With the score tied at 29, Parma outscored the Wolverines 16-8 in the final stanza to seal the victory and exact some revenge after a home loss to Weiser last week.
“They were physical and dominated the boards offensively and defensively, especially down the stretch,” Weiser coach Tim Erhard said. “Parma stepped it up, and we didn’t respond at times.”
The first quarter saw a lot of slower paced, back- and-forth action as both teams struggled to find a groove offensively. Weiser held a slim 7-6 lead at the end of the period.
Both teams picked up speed in the second quarter as the lead changed hands six times in the stanza. Weiser, however, ended the quarter on a 7-3 run, and took an 18-15 lead into the locker room.
The Panthers started with a flurry in the second half, scoring the first six points and using a 10-4 run to take the lead, 25-22.
Weiser quickly responded, though, as Tiffany Nelson and Sara Bates stole the ball and scored on consecutive plays to take the lead back. The back-and-forth action found the teams tied going into the final quarter when Parma took over.
Smyser hit the game’s only 3 on the first play of the quarter, and a basket by Kali Roche gave Parma a five point lead.
Weiser scored the next six points, capped by a pair of Amanda Palmer free throws, to once again take the lead with 5:06 remaining in the game.
Then Parma finished off the Wolverines. Rohrbacher converted a three point play to give Parma the lead for good, and a pair of baskets by Erica Cox and Lacey LaPierre gave the Panthers a six point lead with just more than one minute remaining.
Weiser failed to make the comeback this time, despite Parma making just 2-of-8 free throws in the final minute of the game.
“You have to be able to play defense and rebound,” Erhard said. “We played defense alright, but didn’t rebound.”
Palmer led the Wolverines with 13 points.
The Panthers travel to Nyssa on Tuesday, while Weiser hosts Vale.
