LANETT — The Panthers pounced over Notasulga and kept the momentum throughout the duration of a 60-39 win on Tuesday night.

“They came out with a lot of energy, we understood what was in front of us, they grasped the moment and they ran with it,” Lanett girls head basketball coach Charlie Williams said.

With the win, the Lanett girls basketball team’s area record improved to 4-1, setting them up for on Friday night at Loachapoka to decide the area regular season champion. The champion gets the opportunity to host the area tournament.

Lanett played hard on both sides of the ball until the final buzzer sounded on Tuesday night. Once the Panthers scored, a defender remained under the basket to guard, whomever the Blue Devils had bring the ball up, the entire length of the floor. The Panthers crept into passing lanes in a blur and caused many Notasulga turnovers near the end of the game.

“Those junior high girls I called up brought a lot of energy,” Williams said. “Samariah Davidson, Ameria Truitt, Ariel Hall, Laila Lancaster, Jakiya Little. They brought the energy that they had with the junior high to the varsity level, and it’s carrying over.”

Senior guard Makaiya Broughton led Lanett with 18 points on the night.

“She’s being consistent,” Williams said. “She’s being a senior. That’s what you want out of these seniors is consistent play. The young girls are watching her and are following her example.”

Breanna Glaze finished with 15 points, while Jaci Howell, Erin Darden, Jayla Higgins, Crystalyn Sprayberry and Ariel Hall got on the board for the Panthers. 

Alyse Madden had a standout performance as well, finishing with 8 points in the victory.

“I call her Magic Johnson,” Williams said. “She can do a little bit of everything. She can dribble, she can shoot it, she can pass it, she can post up. I just call her Magic Johnson. If I could just keep her out of foul trouble, then we’re going to make a big run at this thing.”

Lanett lost to Loachapoka  38-36 at home on Jan. 5, and the key to winning on Friday night remains clear to Williams.

“It’s the same thing, which is just to focus,” he said. “Focus, energy and everything else will fall in place.”