For the second time in a month, the Williams and Maxwell girls basketball teams squared off in a competitive Mid-Valley League contest.
However, unlike the game on Jan. 13 in which the Panthers emerged victorious, this time around, the Yellowjackets recorded the 32-26 win.
While both teams got off to a cold start last Tuesday night, the hometown Panthers took a three point lead in the locker room at halftime after Teresita Salazar hit a shot from long range just prior to the buzzer.
Williams, suiting up just five players, came out strong in the second half and outscored Maxwell 13-7 in the third period to regain the advantage.
Although the Panthers would fight back with a 5-0 run to start the final quarter, baskets by the Yellowjackets’ Bri Jaime and Mia Rivera at the three-minute mark broke Maxwell’s momentum for good.
Ashley Garcia and Kim Guevara had eight points apiece for the ‘Jackets (4-13, 2-6), while Rivera and Trinity Tungasmita each finished with six points.
For the Panthers (2-12, 2-5), Emma Hendrix dropped in seven points, with Fatima Cano contributing six points.
Williams had to forfeit its next game against Hamilton City last Friday night due to a lack of players, while neither the score nor statistics from Maxwell’s game against CORE Butte on Feb. 3 were provided.
Both teams close out the regular season this week. Williams hosted CORE Butte on Monday before traveling to Biggs on Friday. The Panthers hosted Biggs on Tuesday and will play Los Molinos on Friday. â–