Leave No Doubt: The Lady Panthers Clench Second State Basketball Championship & Player of the Year Title
The Lady Panthers finished their regular season with a near-perfect record of 36 wins and just one loss! This incredible performance set them up to sweep the regional matchups by defeating Pike County and Trinity Presbyterian. From here, they faced off against Plainview in the state semifinals, claiming their position in the championship game with a conquering score of 53-36.
The Lady Panthers competed with Susan Moore for the championship at the Bill Harris Arena in Birmingham. PCA quickly asserted dominance over the opposing team within the first half; however, Susan Moore battled their way back to the top, tying the game at 69-69 and sending it into overtime. Panther fans held on to the edge of their seats as the players devised a plan to close the game out. Senior point guard Ella Jane Connell, who totaled thirty-nine points during the game, clinched victory as she scored the winning three points. Once again, the Lady Panthers claimed the state championship title, with a winning score of 72-69 to record a back-to-back championship standing—a first in PCA history!
After a school-wide celebration, the players took part in the celebratory tradition of cutting down the net. Sophomore guard Avery Rogers commented during a WSFA interview, “ It’s really special, because these are the nets we shoot on every single day in practice, and it’s in this gym that we’ve been able to put in the work, and so it’s awesome.” In that same media interview, head coach Jason Roberson shared his excitement, “I think this one…36-1…back-to-back…doesn’t get much better than that.” With this championship win, girls basketball is now the team with the most championships won to date!
Senior Ella Jane Connell and junior Hannah Jones were named to the All-Tournament team following the game, and Ella Jane was recently crowned 3A’s Basketball Player of the Year for the second consecutive year! She has shattered all previous program records during her varsity career, and it’s only fitting that she wraps up her senior year with this prestigious award. According to Coach Roberson, “she is everything that is right and pure when it comes to team sports! She cares about her teammates’ success more than her own.” During this season, Ella Jane shot fewer times and scored because it was best for the team – not herself. “She is a great teammate and leader who looks after her teammates’ interests before her own,” remarked Coach Roberson. “Congratulations on one amazing high school career, but more importantly, thank you for the legacy you’ve left. Thank you for making me and your teammates better every day!”
Congratulations to our Lady Panthers for their well-deserved victory and historic season. We can’t wait to see what’s next for this program!
By: Genesis Russell ’24
Journalism Student
