By Jeff Devine, Dale County Chronicle
It was the battle of the ferocious big cats Thursday night as all three teams of the Wicksburg Panthers took on the Samson Tigers. Spectators certainly learned last night whether a panther could be more ferocious and faster than a tiger, well at least that’s true of the Wicksburg Panthers.
Wicksburg basketball fans had plenty to celebrate Thursday night as the Panthers were on fire. All three teams swept Samson in boys’ varsity, girls’ varsity, and boys’ junior varsity action. Each squad delivered a strong performance, showcasing their talent and determination across the program.
In the boys’ varsity matchup, fans were on the edge of their seats as it remained a close game throughout. Wicksburg pulled off a hard-fought 54–51 comeback win after trailing for much of the first half. Samson jumped ahead 21–10 in the opening quarter and held a 32–29 lead at halftime. The Panthers didn’t grab their first lead until the 7:03 mark of the third quarter, but Samson briefly surged back in front. Wicksburg responded in the fourth, closing the game with poise and securing the narrow three-point victory.
The Lady Panthers controlled their contest from start to finish, rolling past Samson 56–26. Wicksburg opened with a 13–8 lead after the first quarter and carried a 25–13 advantage into halftime. By the end of the third, the lead had stretched to 47–19 as the Lady Panthers’ pressure and pace overwhelmed Samson. They continued that momentum into the fourth, never letting up on their way to a dominant win.
In junior varsity action, the Wicksburg boys capped off the sweep with a commanding 50–13 victory. The JV Panthers set the tone early and never allowed Samson to gain any rhythm throughout the matchup.
The clean three-game sweep marks a strong night for the Panthers program as all teams continue building momentum as they prepare to take on the Daleville Warhawks Friday, with JV starting at 4:30, followed by girls’ varsity and finally boys’ varsity.
