The Permian Panthers closed out the regular season Tuesday with a 69-35 victory over the Midland High Bulldogs at the Permian Fieldhouse to complete a clean sweep of the District 2-6A schedule.
Permian (28-3 overall, 10-0 district) extended its winning streak to 20 games heading into the playoffs. Permian will play the No. 4 seed from District 1-6A next week in the bi-district round of the Class 6A playoffs. Details have yet to be announced.
Permian guard Derrick Wright, one of five seniors recognized before their final home appearance, said running the table in district play was significant for the Panthers.
“It’s a great feeling to go into the playoffs on top of the district,” said Wright, who scored six points. “It’s something we’ve always worked towards. We say we can go undefeated in district and we just got the job done. That’s a great way to close it out for our seniors.”
The 17th-ranked Panthers got going quickly, hitting 60 percent of their shots in the first quarter to jump out to a 14-point lead.
Then they outscored the Bulldogs 10-2 in the second quarter after Midland High switched to a zone defense to slow the pace. Permian used an 18-3 run to take control in the opening period and led by double digits most of the night.
“We pride ourselves on our defense and I thought our defense created some opportunities for us,” Permian coach Tim Thomas said. “We kind of let up defensively in the third quarter, didn’t execute offensively and went into a little lull, but we got back on track.
“I’ve always said basketball’s a game of runs, ups and downs, momentum swings. You just want to have more momentum and opportunities than the other team.”
Brother Miller led the Panthers with 14 points, while Ozzy Terrazas added 13 and Nakavieon White scored 10.
Nat Rodriguez scored nine points to lead the Bulldogs (11-20, 2-8) with Duce Warren adding eight points and Kamden Taylor finishing with seven.
Terazzas scored six points in the first quarter to help Permian gain control after Midland High took a brief 3-2 lead on a 3-pointer by Warren in the opening minute.
“We knew it was our last game and we had to come out with intensity,” Terazzas said. “When we got that first steal, we got our momentum going and that’s what carried out to the big lead.”
The Panthers finished 32 of 59 from the field (54.2 percent) while holding Midland High to 33.3 percent (15 of 45). While the Bulldogs finished with a 34-26 rebounding edge, Permian made up for that by forcing 30 turnovers while committing 11.
Permian held Midland High scoreless for nearly 10 minutes of the second and third quarters, turning a comfortable 12-point lead into a commanding 24-point margin. The Panthers led 45-19 with about two minutes to go in the third quarter before the Bulldogs closed the period with a 10-2 run, their best stretch of the game.
The Panthers responded by scoring the first 11 points of the fourth quarter to push the lead to 29 points with five minutes remaining.
The Permian boys basketball team celebrates winning the District 2-6A championship Tuesday after defeating Midland High 69-35 at the Permian Fieldhouse to finish district play at 10-0.
By Sam Waller
[email protected]
MIDLAND HIGH (11-20, 2-8)
Demorri Williams 1 0-1 3, Daniel Elliott 1 0-0 2, Duce Warren 3 0-0 8, Rayshad Chambers 0 0-0 0, Suddin Sapien 0 0-0 0, Xadrian Van Buren 1 0-0 2, Adrian Lozano 2 0-0 4, Nat Rodriguez 4 1-3 9, Gage Warren 0 0-0 0, Kamden Taylor 3 0-0 7. Totals 15 1-4 35.
PERMIAN (28-3, 10-0)
Brother Miller 6 1-2 14, Elijah White 3 0-0 6, Nakavieon White 4 0-0 10, Derrick Wright 3 0-0 6, Ozzy Terrazas 6 1-1 13, Jonathan Anaya 4 0-0 8, Fabian Flotte 1 0-0 2, Ty’derick Henderson 1 0-0 2, Zach McGee 3 0-1 6, Justin Hammond 0 0-0 0, Kevon Fox 1 0-0 2. Totals 32 2-4 69.
Midland High………. 10…. 2 17 6 — 35
Permian……………… 24.. 10 13 22 — 69
3-Point goals — Midland High 4 (Williams 1, D.Warren 2, Taylor 1), Permian 3 (Miller 1, N.White 2). Total fouls — Midland High 13, Permian 12. Fouled out — none. Technical fouls — none. JV — Permian 64, Midland High 37.
DISTRICT 2-6A STANDINGS
BOYS
Overall District
Team W L W L
x-Permian…………………… 28 3 10 0
x-Odessa High……………. 23 8 7 3
x-Amarillo Tascosa……… 20 11 6 4
x-Wolfforth Frenship……… 16 17 4 6
Midland High………………. 11 20 2 8
Midland Lee…………………. 8 24 1 9
x-clinched playoff berth
———
Tuesday’s games
Odessa High 53, Wolfforth Frenship 46
Permian 69, Midland High 35
Amarillo Tascosa 66, Midland Lee 32
END OF REGULAR SEASON
