The Milton Panthers enjoyed back-to-back wins. On Thursday night the Lady Panther’s Volleyball team left the entire gymnasium speechless when they captured the District1-6A Tournament Title. 24 hours later the Panther’s Football team defeated rival Pine Forest 28-26. Sophomore E.J. Hurst (42) caries the ball against the Pine Forest defense.
How about them Panthers!
BECKY BONDURANT
Special to the Press Gazette
The Panther’s had two days of euphoria.
Two back-to-back wins both on their home turf in front of their family and friends.
After the Panther’s Lady Volleyball Team upset Pace on Tuesday night they advanced to the final night of the District 1-6A Volleyball Championship.
They took the court against the Number 1 Washington Wildcats. The Panthers were seeded as the Number 3 team in the district tournament.
They left the court as the District 1-6A Volleyball Champions.
The title was the first for the Lady Panthers since 2010.
The Wildcats came out strong the first game against the Panthers winning it 25-15. The Panthers had fallen to Washington during the regular season games but came through when he was important. They came through when the title was on the line.
It took five matches 15-25, 26-24, 16-25, 25-10 and 15-9.
Senior Hannah Wingate finished the night with 37 assists. She also finished with a satisfaction of knowing she had given all her skill on the court as well as her heart. Wingate appears to be the team cheerleader. During the season and during the play-offs Wingate was all over the court encouraging her teammates when they got down and also responding when the Panthers were on top. Wingate finished the District battle with 2 aces, 2 kills, 8 digs, 37 assist and 1 block.
The Mikaela Worley never quit attitude also came through during the whole week of tournament action. Worley is a weapon at the net. She sent 23 kills straight down to the Washington Wildcats. Some of her kills were rocket shots others were sent to the Wildcats side with a brilliant strategy of soft, find the whole hits. Worley, who is a junior, ended the night with 2 aces, 23 kills, 2 assist and 2 blocks.
Coach Chelsey Adams shared that she had been extremely nervous for her girls all week. “A good nervous, just unsure of which team would show up.” Adams stated. The District winners showed up all week. “The team I knew that could play with anybody showed up.”
“I couldn’t be more proud of how they played,” she continued. “They did it, they never gave up!”
Individual stats for Milton:
Mikaela Worley 2 aces, 23 kills, 2 assist, 7 digs, 2 blocks
Rebekah Wachob 4 aces, 12 kills, 1 assist, 10 digs
Jayci Floyd 1 ace, 5 kills, 1 assist, 10 digs
Hannah Wingate 2 aces, 2 kills, 8 digs, 37 assist, 1 block
The excitement continued 24 hours later as the Milton Football team followed with a second night of excitement for the Panthers.
Just like the volleyball game it too was a battle, it too was won by the Panthers. After four overtimes the Panthers left their home field exhausted. Their three game losing streak ended dramatically. They had a defeated a district rival, the Pine Forest Eagles, putting the Panthers into a four -way tie for second going into their playoffs.
Friday’s night game saw Milton and Pine Forest both give their all on the field. As the clock ran down in the fourth quarter Pine Forest took the lead 12-6. But the Panthers refused to give up that easy tying the game within the last seconds of the fourth quarter and sending the game into the first overtime.
Four overtimes later the Panthers added a win to their season record.
For senior Trevor Walters it will be a game he retells to his grandchildren. Walters’s leadership and calm demeanor kept the Panthers composed and focused for the several hour long football game.
Panthers 28 Pine Forest 26.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: MHS wins in volleyball and football