By BUTCH HARMON
While many teams usually need a few games at the beginning of a new season to get into the flow, the DeWitt girls basketball team hit the floor running.
Playing two of their biggest rivals in the first three games of the new season, the Panthers sent the message that they can play with anyone.
After an opening-game win against Lansing Everett, DeWitt faced non-league rival Grand Ledge, the No.-1 ranked team in the state in Class A and a team that defeated the Panthers last season. DeWitt came ready to play and not only defeated the Comets but also claimed a double-digit, 62-51, win.
“For us, we put all the rankings aside,” DeWitt coach Bill McCullen said. “This was a game we lost last year, and they beat us pretty handily. The kids were pretty motivated during the off-season to want to get back at a couple of people who thumped us last year.”
The Panthers utilized a balanced attack to defeat Grand Ledge, with senior Hannah Stoll leading the way with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while junior guard Claudia Reid added 13 points, and senior point guard Natalie Knauf added 12 points.
“We hit the boards hard and out-rebounded them” McCullen said. “We also shot the ball well and made our free throws down the stretch.”
DeWitt followed up the Grand Ledge win by defeating East Lansing, a team that has been a thorn in DeWitt’s side the past several years, 73-39.
“That was another big win,” McCullen said. “They have had our number for a while. The last time we beat them was 2005, so it was a nice win for us. Last year, they beat us by 20 points at our place, so it was a nice road win for us.”
Junior Abby Nakfoor led the Panthers with 15 points.
In the opening win against Everett, senior Lexi Banaszak led the team in scoring and finished with a double-double in points and rebounds.
“We have a lot of kids who can step up on any given night,” McCullen said. “A lot of it depends on the matchups and situations of the team we are playing.”
The tough games continue to come for the Panthers, who have games against Eaton Rapids, one of the higher-ranked teams in Class B, and league rival Ionia coming up.
“We have our work cut out for us this year,” McCullen said. “Not just in our non-league games, but our league is real competitive, too. Haslett has everyone back and is one of the top teams in the area, and St. Johns and Ionia are very competitive as well. You can’t afford to have a letdown in our league on any night.”