Page 10 - Dresden Buzz 04/04/25

PAGE 10 | SPORTS APRIL 4 - 17, 2025
Maysville Panthers become first Muskingum

team since 2016 to win a State Championship by Matthew Dotson

OHSAA Division IV State Champion Maysville Panthers celebrating with cheerleaders and staff and the title trophy. Matthew Dotson

What a whirlwind season it has been 38 points for the Panthers and ended As the game started, the Panthers heads we always believe in our guys,
for the Maysville Panthers! Winning the season ranked #7 in the State of were up against a team that was just as and they just came in and said we’ve got
the State Championship Title for 2025 Ohio with a season total of 497 points, explosive and precise as they were bat- 16 more minutes and it took us so much
against Glennville after trailing by five 122 rebounds, 79 assists, and 58 tling down every minute on the court to hard work to get their so we weren’t go-
points at halftime and coming back to steals. The following season, Maysville lean the board in their favor. The Pan- ing to go out their in the second half and
tie up the game in the third, falling be- made it all the way to the State Cham- thers were prepared for the game in Day- play with any regrets so we left it all out
hind 65 – 58 with just over five minutes pionship game, falling just short of the ton after being on that stage last season there and this is the outcome that came
left in the game. title with a heartbreaking 68 – 54 loss with all of the dreams and expectations with it. “ stated Division IV Player of the
The road to the Title started for the to Archbishop Alter, a team that had 11 weighing heavily on their shoulders. Al- Year and AP East District Player of the
Panthers back in their 2023 season, appearances in the State final game, though Maysville was hot on their tails, Year Gator Nichols when asked what the
where with the help of Alex Bob, they and the Panthers held their own. Glenville grabbed and held a five-point coaches said at halftime.
made it to the Division II Region 7 Semi- advantage going into halftime, leading With the two teams back on the court
final game but lost to Bishop Ready 61 Vs. Glennville State Championship the game 37 – 32. after the break, the Panthers threw it
– 38. In the game, Bob made 20 of the Game (3/21) “We are never going to hang our into gear as they clawed their way back
to a 44 – 40 lead, but Glenville answered
back to leave the Panthers trailing by
just two at the end of the third with the
Tarblooders leading 56 – 54.
“Our kids are tough as nails, they are
never going to back down to anybody, I
don’t care if we are playing the Cleve-
land Caveliers, or the Ohio State Buck-
eyes, they are going to fight for 32 min-
utes or 40 minutes however long that is,
that is just how they were raised that’s
how they came to us in this program,
that’s how we teach them, our practices
are difficult and I have got a great staff
around me. I love that our little guys like
my son get to grow up around the Alex
Bobs, Gator Nichols, Wesley Armsteads,
his favorite player Jordyn Watson, he
wears number 24 and could he have a
better role model than these guys, I am
just grateful to get to coach here, these
great young men, we have a great school
district I couldn’t thank them enough!”
stated head coach Dave Brown.
Glenville kept rolling with their lead,
building it to 65 – 58 over Maysville with
just 5:21 left in the game when the Pan-
thers called a time out.
Assistant coach Jared Cox comment-
ed “We were down in the fourth quarter
and called the timeout and we go into
the huddle and all of our guys were say-
Post game press conference featuring Assistant Coach Jared Cox, Head Coach Dave Brown, Gator Nichols, and Jordyn Watson. Matthew Dotson ing, we are going to score here and we’re