It had been a long time coming for the Stockbridge girls’ basketball team when the Panthers claimed its first district title in 26 years Friday night with a 43-23 win over Dansville.

The Division 3 district title is the first for the Panthers since 2000, when “The Magnificent Seven” coached by Mike Daily claimed the title and advanced to the regional finals.

The Panthers overcame a couple of slow starts on their way to hoisting the trophy on their own court Friday, March 6.

Stockbridge was the top seed in the district and faced Potterville in the semifinals Wednesday, March 4.

The Vikings started quickly and took an 11-4 lead in the first quarter, but the Panthers battled to cut the lead to 11-8 after one quarter.

Stockbridge continued its run with an 11-0 run to start the second quarter, but Potterville roared back to tie the game at 23 at halftime.

The Panthers defense locked down in the third, holding the Vikings scoreless and Stockbridge took control with a 13-0 run to take a 36-23 lead after three quarters and put the game away with a 13-10 run in the fourth for a 49-33 final to advance to the district finals.

Madeline Topping was a force inside and finished with a team-high 14 points to lead the Panthers.

Melina Sayre finished with ten points and Zoe Buddenborg nine. Jaylee Chapman chipped in with six points, Bella Pybus five, Emma Monaghan and Makenna Porter two each.

The Panthers faced off against Dansville in the championship game and both teams struggled offensively in the first half with the game tied at 8-8 after one and 12-1 at halftime.

The Aggies took a 16-14 lead early in the third, but a Buddenborg triple put Panthers on top 17-16, and Stockbridge would not trail again.

Stockbridge closed out the third with a 13-2 run to take a 30-18 lead after three quarters.

The Panthers held off the Aggies in the fourth outscoring Dansville 13-10 and celebrated with the Panther Student section after receiving the district championship trophy.

Pybus led the Panthers with 13 points, including a huge four-point play that pushed the Stockbridge lead to five in the third quarter.

Buddenborg hit three triple and finished with nine points. Sayre and Topping scored five points each, Chapman four, Monaghan three, Chyanne Lindquist two, Porter and Aliyah Numinen one each.

The Panthers improved to 18-6 overall and will travel to New Lothrop and will face the host Hornets (22-2) in the D3 regional semifinals at 7:00 PM Monday night.