After letdowns in their previous games, both DP Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams won Friday night in two time zones. Out in Phoenix, Arizona, Women’s Basketball squared off against New York power Ossining and jumped all over them from the opening tip en route to an 86-57 thrashing at the Nike Tournament of Champions. DP (12-2) took a 14 point lead in the first quarter (21-7) and led by as many as 20 in the second before heading into halftime with a 40-26 lead. In the second half, the Panthers poured it on with emphasis. After stretching the lead to 16 after three quarters (60-44), DP pounded Ossining in the fourth quarter, outscoring the 23rd-ranked Pride 26-13 for the final margin. Five Panther players scored in double figures with Jade Cheek leading the field for the second night in a row with 22 points. Hannah Schaible and Sydnei McCaskill pitched in with 16 apiece, Ciara Cumbie and Ionna McKenzie added ten apiece while Matea Britvar (6), Stephanie Ratliff (2), Arianna Cumbie (2) and Kyla Allison (2) rounding out the barrage.
Here in Orlando, Men’s Basketball took out their frustration from a disappointing loss Wednesday night and blasted visiting Ft. Pierce Central, 74-49, to improve to 8-3 on the year. RaShawn Powell scored a game-high 23 points to go with five assists and Tyriefe Beard poured in 22 points with nine rebounds, five assists and five steals. DP opened up the game with a vengeance and raced to an 18-12 first quarter lead. In the second quarter, DP increased its margin to 36-19 and kept their foot on the gas through the third with a 60-34 lead. Jerard Pierre Louis and Justin Tucker added eight points each while Pedro Lalor finished with six points, three rebounds and a pair of assists.
Men’s JV Basketball picked up their second straight win with a 53-39 victory over Ft. Pierce Central. Ira Warren led the charge again with 12 points as nine different Panthers (5-3) got on the scoreboard. Defensively, DP did not surrender more than ten points in any quarter.
DP Women’s JV Soccer a 2-0 victory over host Apopka on Wednesday to go into winter break with their seventh consecutive victory. Goalkeeper Kaeli Trail notched the team’s ninth shutout of the season and third in its last four matches. During that span, DP has outscored their opponents, 38-2, and now sits with a record of 11-2-1.
