PANTHER GIRLS POUNCE ON COUGARS
By Marc Atwood
marcatwood@aol.com
 
(2/12/08 Chico, CA) Despite trailing 17-15 at halftime, the Chico girls' varsity basketball team bounced back to take a 40-35 win over Foothill in an Eastern Athletic League game played Tuesday at "The Panther Pit."
 
Miesha Kimble opened the Panthers' scoring by making a basket 14 seconds into the game. Chico took a 6-0 lead on a bucket by Angie Cinquini with 4:12 remaining in the first quarter. A three-pointer by Courtney Axner 13 seconds later gave the Cougars their first points of the contest. A breakaway layup by Axner with 1:09 to go in the first brought Foothill within three points at 10-7.
 
Kendall Eagleton hit a three-pointer with 5:43 remaining in the second quarter to give the Panthers a 13-7 lead. Axner responded with a three of her own with 4:37 to go as the Cougars were down by three points. Hillary Colby made a hoop with 3:16 left in the first half as Chico maintained a 15-12 advantage. Brittany Winslow kept Foothill within a point when she made two free throws with 1:56 to go in the half.
 
Eagleton allowed the Panthers to take an 18-17 lead with a three-pointer 18 seconds into the third quarter. The Cougars took the lead back at 19-18 when Winslow made a shot with 6:11 to go in the period. Chloe Bartel hit a pair of free throws with 2:43 remaining in the third as Chico went ahead 23-22. A buzzer-beating three by Eagleton gave the Panthers a 28-22 lead going into the fourth quarter.
 
Charity Fox connected on a basket with 6:47 remaining in the fourth as Foothill trailed by four points. Eagleton made a pair of free throws eight seconds later to get the Panthers to the 30-point mark. A basket and a free throw from Axner with 3:54 left in the contest brought the Cougars within nine points at 36-27. Ashley Barrett's shot with 3:02 remaining in the fourth gave Chico a 40-29 lead. Foothill managed to come within four points on Axner's three with 13 seconds left.
 
Eagleton was the Panthers leading scorer with 13 points. Barrett added 11 points and five rebounds. Axner led all scorers with 20 points. Fox scored seven points and collected five rebounds for the Cougars.