In an intense District 2-6A contest where both teams refused to give up, something had to give.
In the end, it was the San Angelo Central Lady Bobcats who survived, winning 42-41 Friday at Permian Fieldhouse.
The Lady Bobcats remained undefeated in district play, improving to 16-10 overall and 3-0 in district play.
“We won,” San Angelo Central head coach Arsenio Geter said. “That’s all that matters. We’re going to take the win and get the heck out of here.”
The Lady Bobcats were coming off wins over Wolfforth Frenship and Midland Legacy to begin district play.
However, a determined effort by the Lady Panthers almost derailed San Angelo Central’s perfect start to district play.
“It’s been crazy,” Geter said. “We haven’t been playing well on the road all season, but to get a win on the road tonight against a well-coached team, it feels really good.”
Permian, which was coming off a 74-28 loss to Frenship on Tuesday, looked like a much different team on Friday night.
The Lady Panthers fell to 19-11, 1-2.
San Angelo Central’s Nevaeh Hearne had 11 points while Sydnee Moore had 10.
Permian was led in scoring by Kimora Pierce’s 13 points while Briseyda Sanchez had 12 and Bailey Wight finished with six.
Permian began the game on a promising 8-2 run which included baskets by Kimora Pierce and Wight.
However, the Lady Bobcats went on a 7-1 run to tie things up at 9-9 with under a minute to go in the first quarter.
A free throw from the visitors put them in front soon after.
Permian’s Nisi Gomez picked up foul and was sent to the line where she made one of two to tie things back up and the quarter ended tied at 10-all.
Pierce began the second quarter by driving to the basket and making the inside shot for a 12-10 Lady Panther lead.
Pierce picked up a foul and was sent to the line where she made both free throws and the hosts had another four-point lead.
San Angelo Central went on a 5-1 run as the game was tied back up.
Zimra George hit a free throw to put Permian back in front late in the quarter.
She was sent to the line again shortly after where she made the free throw and made it a two-point game.
The Lady Bobcats ended the first half with a 3-pointer from Alexis Long and San Angelo Central took an 18-17 lead.
San Angelo Central began the third quarter on a 5-0 run.
The Lady Bobcats’ surge continued with a 3-pointer from Anna Wierzowiecki and Permian called a timeout soon after.
Pierce responded with two consecutive baskets to make it a five-point game.
She kept it up by draining a 3-pointer on the next Permian possession and the deficit was only two points.
Wight’s inside jumper tied the game back up at 26 with 3:03 left in the quarter.
Sanchez’s 3-pointer put Permian in front, 31-29 late in the quarter.
She was soon sent to the line where she made one of two shots to give Permian a 32-29 lead.
She drilled another inside shot before the buzzer and the Lady Panthers led 34-31 heading into the fourth.
Sanchez kept up the scoring as her free throws gave Permian a 38-33 advantage with 6:20 remaining.
However, the Lady Bobcats responded with a quick 7-0 run, capped by a 3-pointer from Makenna McMillian to put San Angelo Central in front.
Free throws helped Permian tie the game back up at 40 with 3:05 remaining.
After Sanchez was fouled, she made one of two shots from the line and Permian was back in front with under three minutes to go.
However, San Angelo Central regained the lead, 42-41 and burned a lot of time off the clock with the possession.
Permian finally fouled San Angelo’s Sydnee Moore, sending her to the free throw line but with only 4.37 seconds to go.
She missed both shots, but the Lady Bobcats grabbed the rebound and held on for the win.
“They fight,” Geter said of his team. “Even when things aren’t looking good, we still fought hard. Our effort was there.”
Permian will next face Midland Legacy on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Permian Fieldhouse.
