Could it be that Coach Michael Harper is afraid of heights? Or, does he not want his team to peak to early. With a crafty veteran coach, you never know.

What ever the reason the Gadsden Panthers came tumbling down off of the perfect 4-0 first half of the district schedule and are now 4-3 after losing three consecutive games by huge margins.

Just as we saw the Panthers in their first game against the Knights of Oņate; being out muscled and out hustled Gadsden got chewed up by every team they faced... the second time around. Only this time they did not come back to snatch victory out of the jaws of defeat.

They did not and blow the team out in the second half like they did against Oņate to come from a double digit deficeit to win big. The Panthers didn't win a tough road game in overtime like they did against Mayfield. They did not win a close as nails one point victory over Las Cruces nor a four point win over Alamagordo.

No. The Panthers looked completely out foxed. Perhaps Harper was being out coached as well. The teams they lost to were using a zone against the Panthers and Gadsden did not adjust. The team was shooting bad shots from outside and Griego was 2 for 11 in one game. To make up for the lack of shooting the Panthers would try to go inside but without any real size they would end up losing the ball or making just of few of the tough layups that they could attempt.

The Panthers still have a shot at the No. 1 seed but the way that Mayfield is playing the Trojans will probably end up in the number one playoff spot.

  (Photos: Brax - Valley Publishing Company)

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