PANTHER JV GIRLS PULL OUT A CLOSE ONE
By Marc Atwood
marcatwood@aol.com
 
(1/10/08 Chico, CA) The Chico girls' junior varsity basketball team went to the wire before taking a 49-47 win over Paradise Thursday at "The Panther Pit."
 
Caressa Williams made the Bobcats' first basket eight seconds into the game. The Panthers would cut their deficit to 4-2 on a shot by Polly Rystrom with 6:37 remaining in the first quarter. A pair of free throws by Michelle Knafla with 3:20 to go in the first brought Chico within a point at 8-7. Williams' hoop with 2:15 left in the period gave Paradise a 10-8 lead. Karlee Forbis' buzzer beater to end the quarter for the Panthers cut the Bobcats' lead to 15-14.
 
Olivia Filbrandt made a pair of free throws 14 seconds into the second quarter to give Chico a 16-15 lead. Kayla Treverso hit a three-pointer for Paradise with 3:05 remaining in the first half to tie the contest at 18-18. A hoop by Kristy Reynolds with 1:38 to go in the half gave the Panthers a 20-18 lead. Kaitlyn Porter's three- point shot with 1:05 left put the Bobcats back up 21-20.
 
Knafla made one of two free throws 51 seconds into the third quarter as Chico tied the score at 23-23. A three-pointer by Porter 11 seconds later allowed Paradise to regain the lead. The Bobcats took a 30-25 lead on a basket by Williams with 3:22 remaining in the third quarter. Marilyn McGowan's three-pointer with 2:15 to go in the period cut the Panthers' deficit to 30-28. The Bobcats lost the lead, but got it back on Treverso's bucket with 19 seconds left in the third.
 
Haley Kirkman made a free throw with 6:45 remaining in the fourth quarter to allow Paradise to tie the game at 34-34. Knafla responded 14 seconds later by making a three-pointer. Knafla added a pair of free throws with 4:04 to go in the game to put Chico ahead 45-38. She would make another two free throws with 1:29 left as the Panthers went up 48-44. Cynthia Gutierrez hit a three-pointer with 47 seconds left to bring Paradise within two points. She had a chance to win the game, but her shot was blocked in the closing seconds.
 
Knafla was Chico's leading scorer with 20 points. She also collected four rebounds. Reynolds added 12 points and nine rebounds. Paradise got 17 points from Porter, while Williams had 15 points and seven rebounds.