For the second time in four nights, the Euclid Panther basketball team went on the road as the lower seed in the OHSAA state tournament and left with a victory. This time the Panthers traveled to Canton and took down the Glenoak Eagles by a final score of 60-58.
The long road trip did not faze
Jaden Wanton as he went for 9 first quarter points to Give the Panthers a 14-13 advantage at the end of the first.
Clayton Cunningham added the other 5 points for the Panthers in the frame. This would be a preview into how the Panther offense would go for the rest of the night with Wanton and Cunningham getting it going on offense.
The second quarter saw Glenoak get into a rhythm offensively as they scored 18 points in the quarter while holding Euclid to just 11. Wanton and Cunningham kept Euclid afloat as Wanton had a tip dunk in traffic and finished an and one off of a beautiful pass from
Jordan Rees. Cunningham would hit 2 threes in the quarter as well. With time winding down in the first half, Glenoak forced a turnover and banked in a three from just inside half court to give the Eagles all the momentum and a 31-25 lead heading into the break.
The third quarter saw a different mentality from the Panthers on the defensive end. They began to pick up full court and force Glenoak into turnovers that led to baskets for the Panthers. Euclid held Glenoak to just 7 points in the third quarter and only allowed two made field goals. Senior
Jordan Rees came up with multiple steals in the quarter and facilitated his own 5-0 run. Rees stole the ball after Glenoak rebounded a Panther miss, dribbled beyond the arc and buried a triple in front of the Euclid bench. On the next possession, Rees drove down the lane and finished over the Eagles 6'6" center capping a solo 5-0 run that gave all of the momentum to Euclid. At the end of three the game was tied at 38-38.
The fourth quarter started well again for Euclid. Cunningham converted an and-one layup to give the Panthers their first lead since the end of the first quarter at 42-40. It is a lead the Panthers would not give up the rest of the game. With 4:14 remaining in the game Euclid had extended their lead to 8 points, 50-42. Wanton and Cunningham continued to attack the rim and keep the Panther offense going. A quick stretch of Panther turnovers and Glenoak baskets gave the Eagles life as they cut the lead to 59-58 after a three pointer with 15 seconds left. Wanton would get fouled and split the free throws giving Euclid a two point advantage 60-58. Glenoak had one last chance with the ball at half court and one second left, but Wanton tipped the inbounds pass up into the air causing the clock to run out and sending the Panthers to the District Semifinals.
Wanton (27) and Cunningham (26) combined for 53 of the Panthers 60 points.
Jordan Rees scored 5 and
Michael Patterson and
Devin Bennings each added a free throw.
Euclid advances to the District Semifinals on Wednesday March third as they travel back to Canton to take on the #2 seed Canton McKinley. Tip off will be at 7:00pm.
