PANTHER GIRLS ROUND UP SPARTANS
By Marc Atwood
marcatwood@aol.com
 
(2/5/08 Chico, CA) The Chico girls' varsity basketball team gained a 62-39 win over Red Bluff in an Eastern Athletic League game played Tuesday at "The Panther Pit."
 
Ashley Barrett made a bucket with 7:01 remaining in the first quarter for the Panthers' first score of the evening. Liz Thomas hit a basket with 6:35 to go in the period for the Spartans' first score. Miesha Kimble connected on a hoop with an assist from Kendall Eagleton with 3:34 left in the first as Chico took a 10-4 lead. A free throw from Thomas with 2:01 to go cut Red Bluff's deficit to 14-7.
 
Jennifer Kissiar hit a shot 44 seconds into the second quarter as the Panthers stretched their lead to 21-9. A three-pointer by Janae Rodriguez with 5:50 left in the first half kept the Spartans within 11 points at 23-12. Kimble's three-pointer with 3:23 to go in the half pushed Chico up 31-13. Clara Chrisco added a pair of free throws with 1:09 remaining until halftime to give the Panthers a 35-16 advantage.
 
Katie Morrison made a free throw with 7:03 remaining in the third quarter to push Chico's lead to 38-20. A hoop by Thomas with 6:17 to go in the period gave Red Bluff its first score of the second half. Eagleton made a shot with 3:09 left in the third to move the Panthers up by 20 points at 46-26. Katlin Darnall's basket with 1:31 remaining cut the Spartans' deficit to 50-28.
 
Thomas made a hoop eight seconds into the fourth quarter as Red Bluff trailed by 20 points. Brooke Acevedo responded 30 seconds later with a shot of her own that gave Chico a 52-30 lead. Chrisco's shot with 3:22 to go in the game allowed the Panthers to reach the 60-point mark. A three by Rodriguez with 2:08 left brought the Spartans within 21 points at 60-39.
 
Barrett scored 12 points to lead Chico. She also took in eight rebounds. The Panthers also received eight points each from Chrisco and Acevedo. Chrisco also collected eight rebounds. Thomas led Red Bluff with 16 points and nine rebounds. Jaklyn Wheeler scored nine points and grabbed five rebounds, while Rodriguez also scored nine points.