PANTHER FROSH GIRLS TAKE CONTROL OF SPARTANS
By Marc Atwood
marcatwood@aol.com
 
(2/5/08 Chico, CA) The Chico girls' freshman basketball team took the winning end of a 43-24 contest over Red Bluff Tuesday at "The Panther Pit."
 
Tiffany Chu scored the Panthers' first basket 16 seconds into the game. The Spartans' first score came on a free throw by Brandi Anthony with 4:46 remaining in the first quarter. Chu's bucket with 3:32 left in the first allowed Chico to go ahead 9-1.
 
Chu hit a three-pointer 27 seconds into the second quarter to give the Panthers a 16-3 lead. A free throw by Marissa Clawson with 5:11 remaining in the period cut Red Bluff's deficit to 18-4. A bucket by Emily Hoptowit with 4:37 to go in the first half allowed Chico to reach 20 points. Clawson's free throw with 2:25 left brought the Spartans within 13 points at 20-7.
 
Sam Conroy made a hoop with 5:31 remaining in the third quarter to put the Panthers up 26-8. Haley Matheson hit a free throw with 3:52 to go in the period as Red Bluff was down 28-9. A three by Raeanne Bertagna with 3:14 left in the third moved Chico ahead by 20 points at 31-11. Anthony made a shot with 43 seconds to go as the Spartans trailed 33-15.
 
Clawson's bucket 13 seconds into the fourth quarter cut Red Bluff's deficit to 35-17. Lydia North made a shot with 6:12 remaining in the game to move the Panthers' advantage to 37-17. Emily Lopez's bucket with 2:27 left in the contest allowed Chico to take a 43-21. A shot from Clawson with 1:27 to go in the fourth put the Spartans back down by 20 points.
 
Chu led the Panthers with 11 points and eight rebounds. Bailey Smith and North each scored six points. Clawson scored 12 points and grabbed six rebounds for the Spartans, while Anthony added five points and four rebounds.