Princeton sophomore Rayleigh Williams scored 17 points in last week’s loss to Plano East. Photo by Jerry Winfrey / C&S Media
By Emily Williams
The Lady Panthers basketball team opened district play with a 56-33 loss against Plano East this past Tuesday.
Princeton started the game trading baskets with Plano East behind the scoring of Jada Childress and Rayleigh Williams, with each having a basket and a 3-pointer and Rayleigh hitting 3 out of 4 free throws in the first half
After the first half, the Lady Panthers from Princeton only trailed 22-17.
Despite the lone returning starter, Chandler Evans, warming up in the second half and contributing 3 baskets of her own, the offense struggled to keep up when Plano East took off with a 25-point 3rd quarter.
Princeton’s defense was tough in the first half and kept Plano East under control, however the Lady Panthers from Plano East came out with a big second half, scoring 25 points in the third quarter and adding another 9 in the fourth to put the game out of reach for Princeton.
Princeton and Plano East each put 9 points on the board in the 4th quarter, but it was too much to overcome for Princeton.
Last Friday, Prosper Rock Hill held a 34-18 scoring edge in the second half to rally the Blue Hawks to a 47-40 home win over the Lady Panthers.
Princeton led 22-13 at halftime.
Chandler Evans scored 12 points in the loss, followed by nine from Jada Childress and eight from Rayleigh Williams.
Princeton struggled to contain Rock Hill’s duo of Sofia Read (20 points) and Ashlynn Ntoung (18), who combined for 38 of the team’s 48 points.
Princeton is still trying to find its rhythm after losing two 4-year starters who are now playing Division I college basketball, who led the team to a 2nd-place district finish in 2024-2025.
Princeton was looking to find its first district win when they faced Plano Tuesday.