Trevor Phipps
The Lady Panthers will soon conclude their regular season, with one final game. But more importantly, the WP hoopsters are bracing themselves for potential b-ball playoff action.
At the end of last week, the team was sitting in 16th place statewide in the 3A division. If they can hold the rank, they would earn a playoff spot.
The ladies currently have an 11-6 overall record and a 7-5 league record. They are currently in seventh place in their 4A/3A Tri-Peaks League, which according to the team’s head coach Craig Macari, is one of the most competitive leagues in the state.
Last Tuesday, the Lady Panthers stomped Florence on the road 62-14. But then last Thursday, they were lost to Lamar during another away game 47-28.
During the ’22-’23 season, senior Isabella Slocum has been one of the team’s key players. Slocum has racked up a total of 229 points and has scooped up 231 rebounds.
Slocum leads the team in several categories with an average of 13.5 points per game, a 48 percent field goal percentage, 13.6 rebounds per game, 2.3 assists per game, 4.4 steals per game, and 1.3 blocks per game. She currently leads the 4A/3A Tri-Peaks League with the most rebounds per game, and she is ranked third in the league for most blocks per game.
Senior Sydney Roshek has also had a stellar season with 171 total points and 87 rebounds. Senior Izabella Newsom has scored 79 points and has picked up 33 rebounds and 33 steals so far this season.
The girls have one more match of the regular season this year and once it is over their playoff fate will be officially determined. On Wednesday, the Lady Panthers take on the 9-10 Manitou Springs Mustangs at home.
If the girls can stay at number 16 in the ranks, they will play in the district tournament. The eight district tournament winners will then play in the state championship tournament.
Woodland Park Boys’ Basketball Eyeing Post-Season Play
Just like the girls, the boy’s Panther hoopsters are also having a stellar year and they too could play in the postseason.
Also like the lady hoopsters, the boys are right on the edge of seeing the playoffs and they will get that chance if they can keep winning games for the rest of the regular season.
The good news is that at the end of last week, the boys were on a two-game winning streak. Last Tuesday, they squeaked by Florence 58-57 and then on Thursday they topped Lamar 51-44.
The team currently boasts an 11-6 overall record and an 8-4 record in their 4A/3A Tri-Peaks League. The Panthers currently sit in fifth place in their league, and they are ranked 17th statewide in 3A.
In their league, the team sits behind such teams as Salida Manitou Springs, The Vanguard School and 8- Colorado Springs Christian. The Panthers still have to face Manitou Springs before the regular season ends this Wednesday in a home match that could decide whether the team gets a spot to play in the district tournament.
Woodland Park Icemen Fall Short of Playoffs
The Woodland Park High School Hockey team also has sported pretty good season, courtesy of a bullish start.
However, their performance for the ’22-’23 season will most likely not quite be good enough for postseason play.
The Ice Panthers looked pretty good in the beginning of the season, but the winning tide has changed for the worse. After their 6-5 close win on Jan. 16 against Palmer, the team has failed to pick up a “W” ever since.
In fact, the Panthers lost their last four games in a row. Their most recent defeats occurred a couple weeks ago when they were beat on Feb. 2 by Doherty 4-1 and on Feb. 4 when they were shut out by Cheyenne Mountain 7-0.
The team currently has a 3-9 overall record and a 3-4 league record. Currently the boys are in 13th place in the state in 4A, and they are in third place in their 4A South League. 7-0 Cheyenne Mountain holds the top spot in the league and 5-3-1 Palmer sits comfortably in second.
The hockey stars only have one game left of their regular season play as they take on the 2-14 Rampart Rams this Saturday at 3:30 p.m.