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Panthers Outlast Mustangs in Fast Paced Shootout
By: Aaron Seybert

Thursday, December 14, 2009
BRADENTON -- Coming into Monday night's game between the host #3 Bradenton Christian Panthers and visiting Lakewood Ranch Mustangs, there was a bit of a story behind the game.  The current head coach for Lakewood Ranch, Chris Kawcak, is in his second season at the healm but before that he was an assistant coach for 6 seasons with Bradenton Christian.  Well you could tell he learned a few things with the Panthers because the Mustangs almost looked like a mirror image in terms of playing style, and almost used BCS's own medicine against them to steal a win.  However it would be the Panther's who were able to pull away in the fourth quarter for good in the last few minutes to take a 85-78 win, and remain unbeaten at 8-0. 

Lakewood Ranch definitely did not come into the game scared, or worried that as a 1 win and 5 loss team they had no business hanging with an undefeated and annual area and state power.  Instead they proceeded to not only run with BCS, but actually run by them for the majority of the first quarter.  They had a good game plan to beat the BCS full court pressure, which usually terrorizes teams because of super quick and pesky twin guards Jordan and Jonothan Negrin.  They simply pushed the ball over the pressure with passes, and kept attacking the rim, putting the Panthers on their heels for the first time this season.  They made shots, were balanced in their attack, and were able to actually take away a lot of BCS's easy fastbreak opportunities by limiting turnovers and playing solid transition defense.  At the end of the first quarter, Lakewood Ranch was ahead 21-14 and the fast paced shootout was on.

In the second quarter however, the Panthers got back on track offensively and put up 29 points including two 7-0 runs.  However, the Mustangs were not going away, as they continued to make shots and scored their first 12 points of the quarter on three-pointers, allowing them to hang onto the lead through over half of the second.  Bradenton Christian junior Daniel Magley was one of the keys to the Panthers success in the second, scoring 10 of his 15 total points in the period, including two big treys.  BCS would finally take their first lead a little over half way through the period when Jordan Negrin put on his own 7-0 run over a minute and 11 second span, pushing the Panthers ahead 41-35.  The score at the end of the half was 43-39, BCS's advantage.

Magley led all scorers with 10 at the half, while Jordan (9), Michael Frey (8), Jonothan (8), and big freshman Rawly Alexander (4) all were big contributors as well.  BCS sophomore forward Brian Cobb got into foul trouble early, and was forced to sit for most of the first half. Lakewood Ranch was led by Jake Carlton with 9, Danny Zarrella (8), Tim Greenamoyer (8) and Andrew McNett (7).

In the third, BCS would start to flex its muscle a bit with their defensive pressure and size advantage inside, with Cobb back in the mix.  They stretched their lead to as much as nine at one point.  But Lakewood Ranch was not going away, and clawed their way back thanks to some defensive pressure of their, getting steals and causing the Panthers to make some uncharateristic mistakes during a 12-2 run, helping the Mustangs tie the game back up at 59 apiece with just under two minutes left in the period. 

BCS would score two late buckets though and go back ahead 63-59 at the end of the third.

The fourth was similar to the previous quarter, in that the Panthers were able to push their lead back out to nine and then got their biggest lead at eleven with just over four minutes remaining.  However, Lakewood Ranch again would cause some turnovers and kept making timely shots during a 10-2 run, capped by a steal and layup by Zarrella, bringing the score to 76-73 with 1:45 left in the game.

From there though, BCS stepped up on the defensive end and Jon Negrin knocked down four crucial free throws, helping push the Panthers lead back out to 84-75.  A meaningless three by Greenamoyer at the buzzer would bring us to the final score of 85-78.

Bradenton Christian was led by Jonothan Negrin who scored 19 points, and made 12 out of 12 shots from the free throw line.  His twin brother Jordan added 17 of his own, to go along with 6 assists.  The inside duo of Frey and Cobb came up huge in the second half on the boards, with each grabbing 17 rebounds in game overall, while Frey also scored 16 points and Cobb added 13.  Magley was the fifth of the double digit scorers for BCS, notching 15 for the game. 

Lakewood Ranch was led by Zarrella who scored a game-high 21 points, while Jake Carlton and Tim Greenamoyer both added 15 apiece.  Andrew McNett chipped in with 11.

The win improves BCS to 8-0 on the season, while sitting at 5-0 in district play as well.  They return to action this Friday on the road in a disrict matchup with Bayshore Christian in Tampa. 

Lakewood Ranch drops to 1-6 on the season, and will be back in action tonight against district foe Palmetto on the road.