The Pacheco Panther girls basketball team hosted the Ceres Bulldogs on Tuesday, Jan. 14 and scored a thrilling come-from-behind victory 54-50 over the Bulldogs.

The Lady Panthers entered the Ceres contest with a perfect 3-0 WAC conference record and needed an inspired second half of basketball to remain undefeated in league action.

The Bulldogs took a 27-18 lead into halftime, and it seemed as though the Lady Panthers might drop their first league game.

Senior Sasha Siemiller, left, and a Ceres player battle for possession.

However, Pacheco stormed back in the third and fourth quarters led by Mary Tava (19 points, 6 rebounds), Jeanette Ortiz (11 points and 3 rebounds) and Nikki Nance (6 points and 4 rebounds). 

The Panthers were led in the clutch by the excellent all-around effort of Sasha Siemiller (10 points, 13 rebounds), as she scored nine points in the fourth and decisive quarter including the final seven to secure the victory and preserve the Panthers perfect 4-0 WAC conference record.

The Panther’s perfect start came to an end in Modesto on Thursday, Jan. 16, at the hands of the Beyer Patriots, who defeated Pacheco by the narrow margin of 47-45. 

As a Pacheco player scores with 24.4 seconds left in the game making it 52-50, varsity head coach, Trent Taylor displays his excitement.
The Westside Express