Emma Kugel of Fairbanks eyes the basket. Kugel helped the Lady Panthers to a victory over West Jefferson on Thursday. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
The Lady Panthers of Fairbanks notched their eighth victory in 17 games with Thursday’s 27-26 thriller over West Jefferson.
FHS (5-7 in the Ohio Heritage Conference) and West Jeff were deadlocked at 8-8 by the end of the first quarter.
Fairbanks led 8-2 in the early going.
The Lady Panthers managed only two points during the second set and trailed, 15-10, at the turn.
Fairbanks rebounded in the third period and closed to within 20-19.
FHS went on top 26-20 and withstood West Jefferson’s late scoring rally.
The visitors tallied five points during the final 15 seconds, but it wasn’t enough to win.
The Rough Riders shot just 21 percent from the floor (11-of-53).
The Lady Panthers (who will travel to Mechanicsburg on Saturday) were a touch better (percentage-wise), hitting nine-of-35 for 26 percent.
FHS basically won the game at the free throw line.
Fairbanks sank six-of-nine, while the Riders managed just two-of-four.
Emma Kugel went four-for-four at the stripe during the fourth quarter to help seal the win.
Carly Lehman led the Lady Panthers with nine points, while Kugel topped the squad with nine rebounds.
Fairbanks
Lehman 3-2-9, Bookwalter 3-0-7, Kugel 0-4-4, Lahmers 2-0-4, Rowland 1-0-3, Pyers 0-0-0, Headings 0-0-0. Totals 9-6-27.
Three-point goals: Lehman 1, Bookwalter 1, Rowland 1.
West Jefferson
King 4-0-9, Roberts 3-1-7, Mannon 2-1-6, Lambert 2-0-4, Lewis 0-0-0, Stickel 0-0-0. Totals 11-2-26.
Three-point goals: King 1, Mannon 1.
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Lady Cardinals fall
Triad’s girls slipped to 2-17 on the season with a 47-31 loss against Mechanicsburg.
The Lady Cardinals (who are 2-12 in the Ohio Heritage Conference) played a solid first half.
They trailed 10-6 after the opening quarter and 18-16 by halftime.
The Indians opened up a 34-25 margin by the end of the third set.
Frani LeVan was the lone Lady Cardinal in double figures with 12 points.
Cati LeVan grabbed 11 rebounds and dished for five assists.
Triad will host Northeastern on Saturday.
Mechanicsburg
K. Schipfer 8-3-24, Hamby 2-2-6, Forrest 2-0-5, Rausch 2-0-4, D. Schipfer 1-1-3, Warfield 1-0-3, Wilhelm 0-2-2, Wilson 0-0-0, Jones 0-0-0. Totals 16-8-47.
Three-point goals: K. Schipfer 1, Forrest 1, Warfield 1.
Triad
F. LeVan 3-4-12, Walls 3-0-6, Butz 1-3-5, C. LeVan 1-0-3, Perry 0-3-3, Babanova 1-0-2, Wenger 0-0-0, Fauber 0-0-0, Cox 0-0-0. Totals 9-10-31.
Three-point goals: F. LeVan 2, C. LeVan 1.
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Triad squads split
The Cardinal junior high boys hoopsters split games against West Liberty-Salem.
The eighth-grade scored a 50-31 verdict.
Griffin Ross of Triad tallied 18 points and Kane Bailey added10.
The seventh-grade fell, 50-45.
Triad’s Caleb Thomas led all scorers with 22 points.
Talen Belcher added 11.
The Cardinals will travel to Mechanicsburg on Monday.