Panthers pull big win in first league game

Being in Class 3A did not intimidate the Pine Prairie Panthers too much as they approached the District 5-3A schedule. Church Poiint came to town to get the league play started. Pine Prairie bolted out early and managed to hold on and win the game over the Bears by a score of 60-48.
Pine Prairie took a 14-7 lead in the first period. Allen Myles started things off with a trio of baskets. Colton Chadrick added to the Panthers’ success with a three-point bomb. Josh Freeman did his part with a jump shot and a free throw.
In the second period PPHS found their offense slowed by the defensive tempo of the Bears. Offensive woes also haunted the Panthers in the second period. Pine Prairie just scored nine points, and the Bears flew by with 20 points. The 180 degree change in the game allowed Church Point to take a 27-23 lead into the locker room at halftime.
In the third period, Pine Prairie battled back on long distance shooting of Chaddrick and Freeman. The duo combined 11 of Pine Prairie’s 16 points in the frame. Freeman hit three out of four free throws and went on to score 11 points in the game. Later in the period Javon Ardoin hit a three-point shot as PPHS took a 39-30 lead. Their defense was amazing as they held Church Point to just three points.
The Panthers needed to keep their momentum going as the fourth and final period began. Pine Prairie’s Douglas Fontenot got red hot and hit 10 points in the frame. Fontenot drained a three-point shot and Dustin Ardoin hit a pair of jump shots. Myles and Freeman were killers on the free throw line. They combined for over 90 percent free throw success.
Church Point fired back and answered with 18 points. The Bears’ surge fell short and was handcuffed mainly by the free throw shooting ability of the Panthers.
When it was all said and done, PPHS Head Coach Chris Guillory was very proud of his team’s performance in their first game of their District 5-3A schedule.
Douglas Fontenot led the team in shooting with 14 points. He also was among the teal leaders on defense. He controlled the boards for most of the game. Myles had a great game for PPHS. He finished the day with 12 points.
Pine Prairie continued to battle in district competition this week. They will face off against the Raiders of Northwest High School tomorrow night. Pine Prairie will have to travel to Prairie Rhonde to meet the Raiders. It will be an intimidating environment for the Panthers, but Guillory will have the Pine Prairie platoon ready to go.