The previous win put Nocona into the state round for the second time in a row. Unfortunately, because of how they split up classifications into two divisions, only the state final is played at the Alamodome in San Antonio now.
This meant the Lady Indians would have to play the top ranked team left in 2A Division I, the region I champions and second ranked in the state Panhandle. The Lady Panthers only three losses all year came against top state ranked teams in 4A and 3A during their holiday tournament.
The only challenge Panhandle had faced this postseason was when it played sixth ranked Abernathy that featured a division I signee guard in the area round and had won by six points.
Somehow the game was only in Breckenridge and was played on Monday night. The two-hour drive naturally meant most of Nocona was there again while only the hard core supporters for the Lady Panthers showed up as most of the town were betting on them to make it to San Antonio.
The first quarter showed why Panhandle was rated so high. The team seemed to have no holes, having size, shooting and tough defense with the ability to give several different looks.
The Lady Panthers elected to use their size advantage inside to try to either post up or drive to the basket. Right away Nocona got a good look at another solidly built post player in Ann Garrison, who played bigger than her height and used her physicality and good hands to both score and grab offensive rebounds all night.
The Lady Indians struggled initially, trailing 11-6 with Meekins scoring all of their points.
The second quarter was more of the same. Nocona tried to bring help, but Panhandle showed the ability to punish that with a made 3-pointer.
The only thing that seemed to be going the Lady Indians way was the whistle as Nocona was able to get to the free throw line three times during the second period, going 5-6 as trying to find ways to make baskets continued to prove tough to find.
The Lady Indians only trailed 21-15 at halftime, but on the bright side it felt like the gulf in play was much more one-sided.
Nocona made a big swing early in the third quarter. Coach Kyle Spitzer, frustrated with the amount of offensive rebounds the team was giving up, brought in freshman Sy Parker. Parker had played on the JV team all season and her minutes this playoff run had mostly come in the last few minutes of blowouts.
She does possess a combination of size and athleticism the Lady Indians lack in that position and despite her inexperience and the stage, Spitzer pulled the trigger as he knew he might heading into the game.
Her presence seemed to make an impact defensively. Nocona was rebounding better and was able to push the ball in transition, something they had struggled to do in the first half. Meekins got to the free throw line three times and made all six shots count.
The Lady Indians more than doubled their first half scoring total as it had cut Panhandle’s lead to one point 32-31 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Lady Panthers were relying exclusive on Garrison in the second half as she fought through the extra attention, scoring enough to keep her team in the lead in the third quarter and keep pace in the fourth quarter.
Nocona took its first lead early in the fourth quarter with back-to-back layups in transition from Meekins to go up 35-32.
The two players went back and forth throughout as the team’s went back and forth. One thing the Lady Indians had to be wary of was Meekins had four fouls, with one more fouling her out.
The score was tied at 39-39 when Smith drove from the baseline, dished the ball inside to Parker, who was playing crunch time minutes to finish the game, who laid the ball in to give Nocona the lead 41-39 with 1:15 left.
It would be a lead the Lady Indians would not give up.
After a stop, Meekins made two free throws to put Nocona up 43-39 with 38 seconds left.
Panhandle was not done as Garrison, who finished with 24 points, again was able to score quickly in the post to make it a one basket game 43-41.
Meekins made one free throw to put Nocona up by three points 44-41 with 16 seconds left.
The Lady Panthers ran a play and got one of their guards a deep open look from 3-point range running off a screen. It was no good and the Lady Indians rebounded the ball and the celebration was on.
Meekins waved to the Nocona faithful as she stepped up to the line with only a few seconds left and sunk both to make the final score 46-41 before the celebration commenced.

To read the full story, pick up a copy of the weekly edition of the Bowie News.

For more photos from the game, click here https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=bnews1&AID=6873312&T=1