Hilliard — The Hilliard Darby Lady Panthers aimed to kick off their season with a strong performance as they faced Canal Winchester in Tuesday’s season opener. After a 10-14 finish in the 2023-24 season, the Panthers were eager to turn the page, starting with a chance to avenge last year’s season-opening loss to the same opponent.
After a slow start offensively, the pace picked up in the first quarter as Hilliard Darby found their rhythm from beyond the arc, sinking three three-pointers to fuel a 14-point opening frame. Canal Winchester kept within striking distance, trailing 14-10 at the end of the first quarter.
The Lady Panthers leaned on their three-point shooting to set the tone in the first half, erupting for 22 points in the second quarter. Capitalizing on turnovers and a sluggish response from the Lady Indians, Darby extended their lead with strong offensive execution. “The three was available to us in the first half,” Coach Chris Savage said after the game. “We had some really good runs, and the effort was fantastic.”
Holding a commanding 36-20 lead at halftime, the Lady Panthers faced adjustments in the second half as they were forced out of their rhythm from beyond the arc. The shift slowed their momentum in the third quarter, but Darby regained control in the fourth, sealing the game with a strong finish. The Lady Panthers secured a 65-48 victory over Canal Winchester, starting their season with a decisive 1-0 record.
Gianna Lane led the Lady Panthers with 17 points, while Hilliard Davidson transfer Carmela Biedenbach made an immediate splash with 13 points. Sam McGough added 11 to complete a balanced scoring effort. Coach Chris Savage highlighted Biedenbach’s strong debut. “Carmela came in and hit four threes confidently,” he said. “She’s a sophomore. One of our guards got into foul trouble, so she came in earlier than expected and performed well.”
Late-game scoring by Canal Winchester added some gloss to the final score, but Coach Chris Savage was pleased with his team’s defensive effort in the victory. “I am very happy,” Savage said. “We have freshmen and sophomores in the mix who aren’t used to the physicality of the varsity game. They came at us and attacked us at times, but I’m proud of how they responded every time.”
Hilliard Darby (1-0) returns on December 3rd with a home game against Marysville.
270-315 Sports 
Leave a comment