By DAVE WOODALL
Slidell sports writer
SLIDELL — In the 2014 opener for Northshore, the Lady Panthers outlasted the Lady Titans from Lakeshore 38-30 in the Panther gym.
The play was sloppy on both sides of the court but being the first game of the season for Northshore and the second game for Lakeshore it was to be expected.
“We were very sloppy with the ball and didn’t communicate well,” Panther coach Bill Gallagher said.
“Bottom line is you know that you are not going to play well this early in the season. The important thing is to figure out a way to win when you are playing poorly. We weren’t believing or trusting in the things we have been practicing and early in the game it showed. We are still feeling each other out and working on the team chemistry. We have a lot of new faces and only one senior who are learning to play and learning to play with each other.”
With 30 seconds left in the first period, Northshore was up only 9-6 despite 10 turnovers by the Lady Titans.
The half ended with the Panthers on top 15-13. Northshore’s Kennedy Harrison led the way with seven first half points followed by Sydney Houlemard with six points.
Raquel Davis had four points in the half to lead the Titans.
The third period turned out to be the most entertaining as the score was tied four times and ended at 24-24.
Victoria Ross kept the Titans in it hitting a trey at the end of the period.
Northshore finally found its rhythm in the fourth period outscoring the Titans 21-17 and ending the game ahead 38-30.
Ross led the Titans with nine points on the night with Davis right behind with eight.
Houlemard and Harrison each had 13 points to lead Northshore. McKenzie Mason pulled down eight rebounds while Harrison collected seven boards.
Neither team shot the ball well with Northshore hitting at 22% (14-of-63) and Lakeshore hitting only at a 25% clip (13-of-53).
“The girls played hard and I didn’t have them prepared for this game,” Titan coach Steve Lopinto said. “They put out a good effort and they didn’t give up.”