Snider’s girls’ basketball team won back-to-back games last week. First, they beat Concordia on Friday night, which keeps them in first place in the SAC. With one game left in conference play, the Panthers have clinched at least a tie for first in the conference. They are a game ahead of Homestead and Northrop, who are tied for second in the conference. The Panthers have already beaten both the Spartans and the Bruins.
In the Concordia game, Snider had three players score in double figures. Jordyn Poole led the way with 20 points. Ciara Sims added 17. And Tia Phinezy came up with 15. The first quarter was fairly close, with Concordia having multiple early leads. But Snider led by eight at the end of the quarter, and continued to build the lead as the game went on.
“We, as a team and as coaches at Snider, value every opponent in every win. Obviously, this was more important because it kept us in the lead for the SAC title,” head coach Reggie Tharp said. “I thought the girls started slow but responded well in the second half and took control of the game.”
Then, on Saturday, Snider won a back-and-forth game against Northridge. The Raiders are 20-3 overall and currently ranked ninth in the IBCA poll. Poole and Sims scored in double figures once again (10 points each). Poole also led the Panthers with five assists, three of which came in the fourth quarter. Tia Phinezy led Snider in scoring with 15 points, and Zyann Phinezy added 10 more. The Phinezy’s came up with several big baskets in the fourth quarter.
The Panthers trailed at the end of each of the first three quarters. But Zyann Phinezy gave them the lead with two free throws early in the fourth. Northridge’s Morgan Cross gave the lead back to the Raiders on the ensuing possession. But shortly afterwards, Tia Phinezy, scored back-to-back transition buckets, putting Snider up 38-35. They held on to win 50-44.
“I think it just shows the character of this team. We were down also against Homestead and were able to come back and win in the fourth quarter,” Tharp said. “And I think it lets the girls know that we’re capable of playing bad and coming back and winning.”
With so many different players stepping up, the Panthers got great team efforts in both of their wins. Tia Phinezy also led Snider with seven rebounds against Northridge, and Saniah Sandlin added five. Also stepping up against the Raiders was Kyra Parker. She had two assists, two steals, and blocked a shot in the fourth quarter that led to one of Tia’s buckets.
“It’s one of those things as a coach that you love. But I think it’s just the character of this team,” Tharp said. “It’s who we are and how we compete every game. So it has become the culture at Snider high school.”
Nae Nae leads Snider in steals per game, and is third on the team in points and rebounds per game. She made a huge defensive impact against Homestead over a week ago. She also started against Concordia on Friday, but was in concussion protocol entering the Northridge game. Tharp said that the team plans to know by tomorrow whether or not Donahue will be available this week.
The Panthers are scheduled to play at DeKalb tonight, barring a cancellation due to slippery road conditions. The Barons are 13-7 overall, and have been improving under fourth-year head coach Noah Stuckey.
“We always expect everyone’s best, no matter who we play. I’m sure that will be the case with DeKalb,” Tharp said. “They’ve been playing really good basketball and have a tremendous player in Ashley Cox. So, we will definitely have to be playing our best basketball to win the game.”
