Outscoring opponents 219-123 in the 44th Annual Northland Classic, the Park Hill South girls’ basketball team (18-3) only trailed for a total of 56 seconds en route to the Lady Panthers’ 10th consecutive victory and becoming tournament champions for the second year in a row.
The Lady Panthers opened the tournament with a season-high 81 points in a 38-point triumph over Oak Park (4-16) on Jan. 30. Regan Williams made all seven of her shot attempts to lead the game with 15 points.
Park Hill South freshman Addison Bjorn scores a layup in the first half of the Northland Classic Championship on Feb. 3.
Avery Simmons was also efficient, shooting five-of-six from the field and four-of-four from the charity stripe to end with 14 points, five rebounds and two steals. Addison Bjorn ended with 13 points, seven assists and two steals.
Ava Miles and Tatum Kells both had 11 points and Lauren Dittmer added eight points. Park Hill South led 52-24 at the break and extended the lead to 75-45 after three quarters to have a running clock in the final period.
The Lady Panthers moved on to take on Kearney (8-11) in the next round on Feb. 1. The Lady Bulldogs opened the game up with a triple and added a layup after Bjorn scored with the 5-2 margin in the opening 2:33 being the only time all tournament long that Park Hill South trailed.
After Miles knocked down a trey from the left wing to tie the game, the Lady Panthers went up 12-9 at the end of the first quarter. Dittmer beat the halftime buzzer with a right corner 3-pointer to give Park Hill South a 32-20 advantage before it pulled out a 63-37 win.
Miles had a game-high 18 points to go with five assists and four steals as Bjorn had 15 points, six rebounds and six assists. Simmons and Williams both ended with 12 points.
Lincoln College Prep (10-8) was the team waiting for Park Hill South in the championship on Feb. 3. The Lady Panthers scored the opening seven points of the night and Bjorn had seven of the 16 first quarter points when the Lady Tigers trailed by four points.
Lincoln College Prep had a surplus of fouls in the opening 16 minutes – with the second quarter being a free throw fest – as it was in the bonus in the final minute of the second quarter. The Lady Tigers had 14 first half fouls, sending the Lady Panthers to the charity stripe seven times in the second quarter alone.
Bjorn and Williams combined for 29 first half points as Park Hill South went into the locker room with a 38-23 advantage. The Lady Panthers built off that lead and pushed the margin to more than 30 points, winning 75-43.
Bjorn was the MVP of the tournament with Williams and Miles being named to the all-tournament team. Park Hill South will have four more regular season games, starting with a home matchup with Park Hill (7-11) on Feb. 9.