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By: Brian Smith

Down to the final buzzer, the Lanett girls basketball team battled Oxford. A late miss was off the mark and the Panthers lost 45-42. Lanett led throughout the contest.

Lanett came out hot against Oxford. Guard Armani Langdon knocked home a short bank shot and then a 3-pointer in just over 30 seconds, giving the Panthers a 5-0 lead. A few minutes later it was 11-0 and the Panthers were rolling. That’s when Oxford got into gear.

Oxford scored the next 14 points to command a 14-13 lead with 4:15 remaining in the first half. The key to the Yellow Jackets’ run was driving the basketball to the hoop. During the majority of the first quarter, Oxford settled for jump shots. The usually steady shooter Ava Thomas was missing and the Yellow Jackets struggled. 

As soon as Oxford gained its first lead, Lanett’s counterpunch included Langdon connecting on another short shot and an additional 3-pointer, the latter coming off an assist from point guard Nakeriona Heard. Lanett went up 20 to 14 with 2:30 to play in the first half.

Oxford rallied culminated by Thomas tying up the score with a bucket and hitting her one free throw after being fouled. The three-point play tied the score at 20 with 30 seconds to play in the quarter. 

Lanett went into halftime up 22-20 as Tyra Jackson connected on two free throws. The third quarter saw the Panthers jump out like they did during the first quarter.

A layup by Jackson and yet another make from downtown by Langdon helped Lanett push its lead to 29-22 with five minutes to play in the third quarter. By the end of the period, the Panthers were in control with a 38-30 lead. Then, another abrupt change took place.

The first six minutes of the fourth quarter saw Lanett’s offense stagnate. There was not enough ball movement as too many players stood and watched Heard dribble the basketball. Oxford capitalized on run-outs and steals, including Jaslyn Montgomery leading the way with key makes that helped her score 17 points in the afternoon. 

The Yellow Jackets started the quarter with an 11-0 run of their own – reversing their fortunes from the first quarter – to lead 41-38 and just 1:48 to play in the game. Timeout Lanett.

A play was set for Langdon to shoot a 3-point shot on the right wing. She missed the shot but was fouled. She hit two of the three free throws. It became a game of keep away. Fortunately for Oxford, Montgomery was eventually fouled with 39 seconds to play and made both. Oxford went up 43 to 40.

Heard did a tremendous job on the next possession by hitting a one-handed runner with her right hand. 23 seconds to play and another foul sent Oxford point guard Bri Wilson to the line. She drilled both shots to make it 45-42. Lanett passed the ball to midcourt and called timeout once more. 7.9 seconds on the clock. Everyone knew the player that was going to have her number called. 

Langdon got an open look at another three from the left wing. She missed and Oxford rebounded the basketball as time expired. Langdon finished the game with 15 points to lead the Panthers.