The Lady Panthers will compete at the basketball state championship. With a strong defense and accurate shooting skills, hopes are high for the Skagway School team.
Skagway School’s Lady Panthers placed second at the Region V 1A basketball tournament. The girls’ 35-26 win over the Hoonah Braves in Ketchikan on March 2 secured them a spot at the state championship.
Coach Nate Jennings was optimistic about his team’s abilities in January, following the Elizabeth Peratrovich Women’s High School Basketball Invitational.
“Now they’re starting to click a little bit and definitely more shots are falling,” Jennings said. “So, I feel like we’re really on a good schedule as far as our progression. And I have so many offensive threats on this team that I can’t wait to see them all kind of shine together finally, and start making shots like they all can. And we’re going to be really dangerous once they start doing that.”
The team is composed of 12 girls. Two members are seniors, Ava Myers and Athena Smith.
For Jennings, who has coached the Lady Panthers for seven years, it’s a family affair. His daughter, Lennon, a sophomore, is on the team. His son, Mason, 12, sometimes helps call the games, to the delight of Skagway fans.
“…to Myers,” Mason announced. “Myers, back to Jennings. Three-pointer on the way. It’s in! Wet like water! Lennon Jennings puts up a three, and five to two, Skagway leads.”
At the end of the game, before signing off, Mason ran onto the court to celebrate.
“I gotta go. I gotta go,” Mason said.
The girls, who just arrived home from regionals, were met with the lights and sirens of Skagway’s fire and police force as they disembarked the ferry. The team will leave again shortly for the championship, held in Anchorage from March 13-16.
Correction: An earlier version of the story stated that eight of the 12 team members were permitted to travel. For regional and state championship, all eligible varsity members may travel.
