Blog: Peninsula Panthers Earn Big Victory versus Mira Costa Mustangs

On Friday 1-18-13 at 4:30 PM the Peninsula Panthers JV Boys Basketball Team took on a very big and physical Mira Costa Mustangs team in a Bay League tilt. The Panthers had just finished a very long and difficult week of mid-term exams plus they had a very hard and emotional game versus Palos Verdes on Tuesday afternoon. The expectation of mental and physical fatigue was looming large in the Peninsula gym. The game started with The Panthers losing the jump ball and getting a stop against the Mustangs. The Panthers came down and patiently worked the ball for the entire 35 second clock when Junior Kurt Murakami was forced to take a shot from about 32 feet out with time expiring, the shot struck the front of the rim bounced up above the top of the backboard and came down through the center of the basket and the Panthers were off and running. The Panthers raced out to an 18-11 lead after the first quarter. The second quarter began with the Panthers increasing their defensive effort and they out scored the Mustangs 14-1 to take a commanding 32-12 lead going into halftime. The 3rd quarter began and it appeared that things were about to change for the Panthers, first there was a mechanical malfunction with the clock and a small portable scoreboard had to be used for the remainder of the 3rd quarter. The Panthers returned to the court and seemed out of it and their focus was obviously gone. The Panthers began making a number of fundamental mistakes and they played with no urgency as they had in the 2nd quarter. Mira Costa had actually cut the Panther lead down to 12 when the Panthers took a much needed time out. The time out seemed to refocus the Panthers who came out more focused and finished the quarter being out scored 19-13 to lead 45-31 going into the 4th and final quarter. The Panthers came out re-energized and determined not to suffer another mental lapse and turned it on in the 4th quarter and out scored Mira Costa 23-16 to finish the game with a hard earned 68-47 victory. The Panthers are now 3-1 in Bay League action and will host a very good and strong West Torrance team on Tuesday at the Peninsula Gymnasium at 4:30 PM. The Panthers would like to invite you out to come see some fun and enjoyable game action. Te Panthers were led by Sophomore Kurt Milch with 29 points, Junior Donte Buchanon with 13 and Junior Kurt Murakami added 9 points. The entire Panther team contributed in this win on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor. The Panthers are now 10-4 overall and 3-1 in league with 6 games remaining in the season, come on out and support all of the Peninsula a basketball teams!