Plano East senior Nariah Witherspoon, pictured in previous action, helped to lead the Lady Panthers to a 48-37 win over Prosper on Tuesday, Dec. 9. Photo by Andy Redmond / C&S Media
By David Wolman
PROSPER – The way in which the Plano East girls basketball team has played in the third quarter during each of its first three District 6-6A games could potentially set the tone for another big postseason push and a district title.
Plano East outscored Princeton 25-7 in the third quarter of its district opener, then used a 16-5 run to pull away from Plano West last Friday.
After holding a narrow 22-19 halftime advantage over Prosper on Tuesday night, Plano East seized control with an 18-8 run in the third quarter and went on to earn a 48-37 win.
“It’s a different focus as much as anything,” head coach Derrick Richardson said. “It’s always been a big emphasis for us to come out strong in the third quarter. I feel like close games down the stretch can be won or lost in the third quarter, particularly when I feel like we didn’t come out with the right kind of energy to start the game. I kind of felt like that tonight.”
The separation that Plano East needed came in the first two minutes of the third quarter.
Senior Christine Cua sank a 3-pointer from the right corner off a great find from sophomore point guard Arianna Robinson to ignite a 7-0 run.
Another senior came through for Plano East a short time later. Madeline Bankhead scored the next four points, the first two on a steal and layup followed by a pair of made free throws, with the latter giving the Lady Panthers a 29-19 lead with 6:08 left in the third quarter.
Bankhead finished with 12 points.
Plano East built on its lead despite not getting any points from its five-star recruit, Robinson, through the first five minutes of the third quarter.
Robinson was busy setting up her teammates for scoring opportunities, but when a chance to score presented itself, she took full advantage. She scored seven points over the final 2:55, which was jumpstarted by a play in which she dribbled near the baseline and made a layup while being fouled. She made the ensuing free throw to cap off a three-point play and later added a jumper with 27 seconds left to increase Plano East’s lead to 40-27.
Robinson finished with a team-high 19 points.
Another reason Plano East was able to build a double-digit advantage was because of relentless defensive pressure.
Prosper broke Plano East’s press a few times and made uncontested layups, but the Lady Panthers forced more turnovers than they allowed baskets to the Lady Eagles. Prosper committed 12 turnovers during the second half, one of which led to a steal by senior Nariah Witherspoon and a subsequent layup for Bankhead and a 42-33 lead.
“We knew coming in that they were a young team,” Richardson said. “They have a lot of size at every position, but they’re pretty young and don’t have the same ball handlers that they’ve had the last few years. We felt like we could pressure and force them into turnovers.”
But that success didn’t come without some nervous moments.
Robinson was relegated to the bench after she was issued her fourth foul with 5:20 left in the fourth quarter.
With their leading scorer on the bench for the next three minutes, it could’ve been a reason for the Lady Panthers to panic, but they not only remained in the lead but also built on it.
Senior Hailey Reed delivered a dagger 3-pointer with 4:16 left in the ballgame to give Plano East a 46-35 lead.
Richardson also praised sophomore Julia Elwo for stepping up when Witherspoon had to exit the game because of foul trouble.
“Throughout the season, everyone has grown,” Richardson said. “We do rely on Ari a lot, but we had to play one whole game without her when she was out with the flu. As the season has progressed, a lot of the other girls have stepped up their game. They’re great players in their own right.”