The Panorama Panthers boys basketball team punched their ticket to the substate tournament last night in convincing fashion, beating I-35 High School in Grimes by a score of 55 to 30. Panthers Head Coach Brad Halterman says the key to the win is easy to sum up in one word. “Defense. We did a great job of closing out on the shooters. We did a great job of keeping Jalen White out of the lane, for the most part. And that was the game plan, keep him out of there.”

The Panorama boys will face Woodward Academy in the Substate game inside of the Waukee Field House on Saturday night. This will be Panorama’s third time facing off against Woodward Academy this season; Panorama won the first two games by close scores: a 77 to 74 win back on January 9th, and a 69 to 65 win in the last game of the regular season, a couple weeks back on February the 10th. Coach Halterman says his team is getting some new schemes ready for Round 3 with Woodward Academy, but ultimately they’ll be doing what they do best. “We’re constantly putting in something new. Woodward Academy and us know each other really well. So, we’ll come up with something a little different. We won’t get completely away, because we are who we are, but we’ll put in something new and have that at the ready if we need it.”

Tip off for the Substate game in scheduled for 7 pm this Saturday night inside of the Waukee High School Field House. If you can’t make it to the game, you’ll be able to hear it on K107.9 and www.raccoonvalleyradio.com .