Yesterday marked the official start of the winter sports season for Iowa’s female athletes as preseason girls basketball practice opened up. The fall sports season at Panorama Community Schools saw the Panthers girls cross country and volleyball teams post successful campaigns; Panorama’s girls cross country team placed seventh at the Class 2A State Meet on October 27 in Fort Dodge, while the Panorama volleyball team won a program-best 17 matches this fall and advanced past the first round of the Class 2A regional tournament. The Raccoon Valley Radio Network spoke with Panorama girls basketball coach Dan Druivenga on last night’s Wahl McAtee Tire and Service Center Guthrie County PM Sports Page. He says success in other sports can only benefit the Panorama girls basketball team. “Because I think it helps the girls gain confidence in themselves,” Druivenga said, “I know they’re different sports, but anytime you can put girls or any athlete into a competition type setting, it helps them handle the pressure of competing. Some people can’t do that and some people can.”

The Panorama girls basketball team is coming off an appearance in the Class 2A State tournament last winter, posting a 23-2 overall record. The Panthers’ first preseason event takes place next Thursday, November 15 participating in a jamboree at Audubon High School. The regular season opener for the Panorama girls basketball team is set for Tuesday, November 20, traveling to Gilbert for a nonconference contest against the Tigers.