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Despite playing a lineup that featured nearly all underclassmen, the Pequannock Panthers persevered to capture their own girls' basketball tournament title. The Panthers rallied from behind in the final quarter to defeat the Hawthorne Bears, 45-40.
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In a close sports game which saw multiple lead changes, it seemed as if the Panthers' youth might be too much to overcome as mistakes led to key turnovers. But coach Peggy Bionde's squad was able to keep it together. Led by junior captain Alex Brown and tournament MVP freshman Samantha Tabackman, every player executed their roles perfectly en route to a flawless fourth quarter.
Down three points entering the final period, Coach Bionde made some adjustments in order to shut down Hawthorne's strong low post game. With the help of her younger teammates, Brown ripped down some huge rebounds and converted several key putbacks on the offensive end to keep the momentum alive.
While all the young Panthers played well, one particular performance stood out over the rest. Sam Tabackman, sister of Jordan Tabackman who earned the MVP of the boys' basketball tournament, simply proved that age doesn't matter. Tabackman was the go-to girl on offense and made it a daily double for her family by winning the MVP of the girls' tourney.
A key play came on the Panthers last score. With the game still in reach, Pequannock had an inbound in the front court. Two quick passes and a screen later, freshman Colleen Quinn cut to the lane for a wide open layup to put the game and the tournament away.
Bionde is thrilled with the way her team handled the pressure. "No sense of panic here," she said. "That's what we're going to use going forward. I hope that today builds their confidence." -- Anthony Mulvihill for Jersey Sports Now
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