Panthers coach: Team sees big picture, misses details

PRINCETON — Few teams were as happy to see the calendar turn from December to January as the PikeView Panthers.

The Panthers (4-9) had two games postponed due to weather, lost three of the four games they played and faced some of the best teams in AA – Bluefield and Wyoming East.

While January hasn’t been perfect for PikeView, the Panthers have been playing better, winning three games and competing with top AA teams like Webster County and Liberty.

“We keep improving on what we’re doing,” first-year PikeView coach Lindsay Jones said. “We keep getting better. As a coaching staff, we’re hoping the difficult schedule will pay off for us in the long run. We hope it prepares us for the postseason.”

The Panthers fell to Webster County on Saturday, 68-54, then lost to rival Bluefield Tuesday 83-41. Both teams are currently ranked in the top 10 in Class AA.

“They’re still a lot for them to learn,” Jones said. “It’s all the little things that will make us better. It seems like they’ve grasped the whole picture. They know the answer to the questions, but we sometimes still have a problem executing them.”

In the loss to Webster County, Zach Meadows dropped in 15 points, while Jason Weitzel chipped in 11. Logan McKinney added 10. Weitzel paced the Panthers with 12 points in the loss to Bluefield. McKinney had eight points.

Lykel Collier pushed the Beavers attacking style to 22-2 run midway through the first half to open up a game that was 10-7 in the first quarter.

“Bluefield did a good job of forcing us into things we don’t practice,” Jones commented. “The speed they play at gets you out of your rhythm. For instance, we always have one person take the ball out of bounds.

“Because of what they were doing with us, it seemed like everyone took a turn taking the ball out of bounds. It just messes up everything you’re doing.”

Collier had 17 points and 13 assists for Bluefield. Michael Yost poured in 15, Anthony Eades had 13 and D.J. Edwards added 11.

The run is one many PikeView fans have seen throughout the year. The Panthers stay close for a lengthy period of time before their opponent goes on a big run in which PikeView doesn’t have an answer for.

“I’m hoping that it’s just consistency in what we’re doing and that experience will come with it,” Jones said. “We’re at the point now where we don’t do a good job of overcoming other people’s runs. Basketball is all about runs and how you overcome that adversity and withstand it.”

There have been several bright spots throughout January. Sophomores Weitzel and McKinney and junior Zach Meadows have all played great at times.

Weitzel is averaging 13.3 points per game in the month. His high came against Liberty in the Shady Spring tournament when he connected for 20 points.

“It’s really good,” said Jones of seeing Weitzel step up. “We’re still working on him being more of a vocal leader. That’s a little out of his element.

“We want him to take that quarterback mentality of running the team. That’s what we’re still working on him with.”

McKinney has been consistent with about 10 points per game. Meanwhile, Meadows can have nights of 25 points and 10 rebounds or nights of two points. His coach is hoping for more consistency.

“We’re just trying to get him to realize on the nights he’s being really productive what he’s doing versus the night’s he’s not as productive,” Jones added. “There seems to be a pattern. When he rebounds well, he plays well. When he’s really working hard on defense, his offensive production goes up. We’re just trying to get him to realize those things.”

The Panthers will need all three to be at their best Friday when they welcome Wyoming East in. The Warriors defeated PikeView in the Panthers’ season opener, 87-58.

“It’s going to come down to our team defense,” Jones added. “They do a good job with their transition offense. We’re going to have to run the floor, get back on defense and stop the easy baskets they get. We’re going to have to be patient on offense our selves.”

PikeView will have little time off as Mount View visits on Monday for a make-up game. The Panthers then travel to Independence on Wednesday.

•••

The Lady Panthers improved to 6-6 on the year with a 50-39 victory over Bluefield on Tuesday night at the Brushfork Armory.

PikeView hit 14-of-16 attempts from the free throw line as they held off a furious rally by the Beavers in the fourth quarter.

Hope Nester paced the Panther with 19 points including 11 from the line and had eight rebounds. Lyndsay Hatfield had eight points and eight boards while Madison May chipped in with seven points and 13 boards.

Shelia Hopkins’ 14 points led Bluefield. Ten of those came in the first half.

PikeView hosted arch-rival Summers County on Thursday. They welcome Nicholas County to Gardner on Tuesday night.

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Panthers coach: Team sees big picture, misses details

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