Lady Panther senior Sam Picklesimer (right) battles a Northeastern opponent for possession of the ball on Thursday. Picklesimer helped FHS defeat the Jets, 53-29.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
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Fairbanks girls basketball coach Landon Fraker had one piece of advice for his team Thursday evening.
As it was Senior Night, he told the squad that all of the pageantry would mean nothing unless it put a “W” on the ledger.
After a difficult start, the coach’s message got through as the Lady Panthers defeated Northeastern, 53-29.
The evening was special in a couple of ways.
For one, it ended a two-plus month dry spell between victories for FHS, which finished the regular season with a 2-20 record.
FHS’ only other triumph came against Northeastern by a 43-38 verdict on Dec. 8.
Secondly, it sent seniors Joelle Ziegler, Macy Wanamaker and Sam Picklesimer out with a victory during the final time they would play on their home court.
All three fourth-year players greatly contributed to the win.
Wanamaker tallied 11 points, Picklesimer chipped in with eight and Ziegler added seven.
“We had the flowers and other gifts for the girls, which was nice,” said Fraker. “However, I told them it would all go for nothing unless they went out, competed and won.”
Fraker said the emotions of the evening probably hampered the Lady Panthers at the start.
The Jets hit their first four field goals and jumped out to a 9-2 lead.
Michaela Writesel got FHS’ offense going with consecutive baskets that later pulled the local team to within 9-8.
Northeastern’s Megan Davis stretched her 6-0 frame for a late shot that sent the visitors into the second stanza with an 11-8 margin.
The Jets went up by five on a bucket by Katherine Baneck.
Fairbanks, however, raced to a 13-2 run that featured a pair of trifectas from Wanamaker.
Writesel scored on the offensive glass for a 21-15 Panther lead.
Davis broke Fairbanks’ string of points with a bucket.
Wanamaker and Ziegler, though, knocked down three-balls that pushed FHS out to a 27-17 halftime lead.
“We began pushing the ball in transition much better,” said Fraker. “We introduced that type of game at the start of the year and frankly, the girls didn’t want any part of it.
“We put it away for a long time, but over the past couple of weeks, they became more comfortable with it and we let it go tonight.”
The Panther coach was also pleased with his squad’s defensive work after surrendering double-digit scoring during the opening period.
Fairbanks played a match-up zone defense and Molly Olson was primarily assigned to Jets shooter Hailey Baker, who finished with only nine points.
“Molly did a good job on Baker and we also got her some help-side defense,” said Fraker.
The Lady Panther D clamped down during the third period and allowed only six points.
Bella Rowland swished a couple of jumpers as FHS climbed to a 33-19 margin midway through the quarter.
Emma Kugel and Emma Bookwalter joined in the scoring as Fairbanks sailed into the final eight minutes of action with a 39-23 advantage.
Rowland opened the final set with a three-ball.
Ziegler and Picklesimer teamed for a give-and-go along the baseline as the Panthers opened up a 44-23 lead.
Ziegler got the ball to Picklesimer on the low block.
Ziegler then flashed along the baseline, took a pass from Picklesimer and went in for the layup.
“That was a nice play,” said Fraker.
Writesel hit a basket and was followed by free throws from Ziegler and Picklesimer as Fairbanks’ upper hand expanded to 50-27.
Ziegler returned Picklesimer’s earlier assist favor for a bucket that produced a 52-27 lead.
Baker hit a consolation basket with 1:20 to play.
Avery Groves then sank a late free throw for the Panthers’ final point.
The 53 markers represented FHS’ highest single-game point total of the season.
With the regular season in the books, Fairbanks must now prepare to face the No. 1-ranked team in the state Division III poll.
The Lady Panthers will travel to Columbus Africentric (20-0) for a 7 p.m. tip-off on Tuesday in the opening round of the post-season tournament.
“We know they are going to press us,” said Fraker. “We have to be able to handle that pressure and hopefully, we can slow them down a bit.”
Fairbanks
Writesel 7-1-15, Wanamaker 4-0-11, Picklesimer 2-4-8, Ziegler 2-2-7, Rowland 3-0-7, Kugel 1-0-2, Bookwalter 1-0-2, Groves 0-1-1, Olson 0-0-0, Rausch 0-0-0, Miller 0-0-0. Totals 20-8- 53.
Three-point goals: Wanamaker 3, Ziegler 1, Rowland 1.
Northeastern
Davis 5-1-11, Baker 4-0-9, Baneck 2-0-4, Dietrick 1-1-3, Callicoat 1-0-2, Thompson 0-0-0, Richards 0-0-0, Hayes 0-0-0. Totals 13-2-29.
Three-point goal: Baker 1.