Lady Panthers Shock State-Ranked Jackson Northwest

The Stockbridge girls’ basketball team turned some heads Friday night after a stunning 60-37 rout of Division 1 seventh-ranked Jackson Northwest.

Pulling the upset was not a big surprise, but the way the Panthers blew out the Mounties and handing them just their second loss of the season was an eye opener for teams around the Lansing and Jackson area.

Playing as an independent the Panthers loaded their schedule with strong competition and the game against Northwest was the sixth match-up with a state-ranked team this season and it appears the tough schedule has the Lady Panthers clicking with the playoffs just around the corner.

The win lifted Stockbridge to 9-6 on the season, with five of those losses coming to ranked teams and the other to a strong Leslie team that is 13-3 on the season.

The Panthers dominated the Mounties from the start, jumping out to a 13-2 lead after one quarter and never looked back.

Stockbridge continued to pour it on in the second by outscoring Northwest 18-11 to take a 31-13 lead into halftime.

The lead grew to over 20 in the third and with every run the Mounties made, the Panthers had an answer and held a 45-24 lead after three quarters.

Northwest would get within 15 a couple of times in the final quarter, but the Panthers would hold them off and seal the win in the final minutes of the game.

Gracee Robidou had a huge night for the Panthers with a team-high 23 points, including three long range triples. She added three assists and three steals on the night.

Taylor Lockhart was a force for the Panthers with a double-double of 21 points and 13 rebounds, with two assists and two steals.

Alaina Kellenberger dominated down low with nine points and grabbed a team high 14 rebound to go along with seven assists.

Melina Sayre, who moved in to the starting lineup midway through the season chipped in with five points, while Maddie Dalton had a strong all-around game with two points, five rebounds, four steals, and three assists.

The Panthers took on Division 3’s top-ranked team Ypsilanti Arbor Prep and held their own for three of the four quarters, but it was the third quarter that did the Panthers in and #1 ranked Gators took down the Panthers 61-39.

Stockbridge battled the Gators tough in the first half, trailing Arbor Prep 31-26 at the break.

The wheels came off the bus for the Panthers in the third when the Gators showed why they are the top-ranked team in the state and went on a 21-0 run to blow the game open and take a 52-26 lead after three.

Stockbridge continued to fight in the fourth, outscoring Arbor Prep 13-9, but it wasn’t enough.

Kellenberger picked up a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Panthers.

Lockhart added nine points and eight rebounds, while Sayre chipped in with eight points and six boards. Robidou and Dalton finished with five points each.

Stockbridge bounced back and rallied in the fourth quarter to beat former GLAC rival Olivet 42-38.

The Panthers trailed the Eagles 31-30 after three periods, but outscored Olivet 12-7 in the final quarter to pull out the win.

Robidou led the Panthers with 17 points and four rebounds.

Kellenberger added eight points and eight rebounds, while Sayre finished with eight points.

Lockhart chipped in with four points and seven rebounds, Dalton three points and four boards, and Emma Monahan two points.

The Panthers then fell to D3 honorable mention Ovid Elsie 64-50.

Kellenberger had a huge night with 17 points, 16 rebounds, and five assists to lead Stockbridge.

Robidou added 11 points, while Dalton had seven points and three assists. Lockhart scored eight points and grabbed five rebounds, Monahan chipped in with four points, and Sayre three points.