The Panorama Panthers battled against the undefeated Westwood Rebels in the Class 2A Semifinals of the 2024 Girls State Basketball tournament. After an intense defensive contest with many turnovers from both teams, the Panorama Panthers came back to win by 3 in the final seconds of the contest to advance to the Championship match up in Class 2A, while also giving the Westwood Rebels their first and only lose of the season, knocking the Rebels out of the State Tournament.

The contest between the Rebels and the Panthers was a battle that went back and forth the entire contest, but the Panthers could not take the lead in the first half. Both teams had great defensive play against one another, as the Panthers held the Rebels to only 10 points in the first, but were held to only 9 themselves. Both defenses would continue to shine in the second quarter, as the Panthers were only able to score 7 points while holding the Rebels to 8. With the score at 18-16 going into the second half, the Panthers came back with a fire in the third quarter, using the turn overs against the Rebels to their favor while scoring 16 points and holding the Rebels to only 7.  The Rebels fought valiantly in the final quarter, and at one point in the finals seconds of the contest, the Rebels were within 1 point, but a last second lay up put the Panthers up 39-36. With only .5 seconds left in the contest, the Rebels attempted a three point play to tie the game, but the pass went right through the Rebels hands as the Panthers closed out the Rebel season at the semifinals of the state tournament.

The Panthers advance to the State Championship match up and will take on the Dike-New Hartford Wolverines. It’s do or die for the Panthers at the state tournament, as they will either leave the Wells Fargo Arena as Class 2A State Champions, or as runner ups. We will have play by play coverage of the Panther championship matchup on KKRF with the game starting at 4:45pm.