Panthers Roll Past Maple Valley in Coming Home Rout

The Stockbridge basketball team used a fast start to take a big lead in the first half to the delight of a large Coming Home crowd as the Panthers cruised to a 69-41 win Friday night.

Chris Hall sparked the Panthers with nine first quarter points as they jumped out to a quick 21 point lead.

Tylin Ayers was a force inside and scored six second quarter points as the lead continued to grow. Brandon Nelson, Noah Robidou, and John Morris also sank triples in the quarter as the lead grew to 36-14 at the break.

Stockbridge continued to pour it on in the third with a 24 point outburst and extending the lead to 60-24 after three.

The big lead allowed the Panthers and their fans to have some fun in the fourth.

The place exploded when Hall broke free and was able throw down a dunk sending the fans and student section into a frenzy, but that wasn’t the biggest highlight of the quarter.

Chris Hall goes up for a dunk against Maple Valley

The Panthers team manager Andy Schlaff dressed for the contest and was able to enter the game in the fourth quarter with the Panthers comfortably in control. With the student section chanting his name Schlaff launched a couple of triples that just bounced off the rim and with each miss the crowd letting out a big groan. The roof blew off the gym when Schlaff took a pass in the paint and hit a jumper for a basket as the crowd and team went crazy.

Team Manager Andy Schlaff scores two for the Panthers

It was a special moment for Schlaff and his teammates, with an assist to the Maple Valley team for their sportsmanship in the moment.

Hall finished with a team high 17 points on the night.

Ayers added 12 points, while Robidou and Morris both scored nine. Nelson chipped in with eight and Jeremy Pilch seven. Josh Lewis scored three, while Brock Jones and Schlaff both scored two.

The Panthers improved to 6-1 in the GLAC and 9-4 overall. They are in a three-way tied for the top spot in the GLAC with Leslie and Perry. They travel to Leslie Friday night for a showdown with the Blackhawks who handed the Panthers their only conference loss 63-60 in overtime January 17.