Tuesday was just supposed to be an Orange Belt Conference girls basketball game between longtime rivals Osceola and Gateway, even though the Kowboys have gotten the better of the series over the years.
But when you consider Gateway entered the game with a 13-4 record, and Osceola was 3-6, in had the makings of not-your-average night in the Panther gym.
Then it turned ... unique.
First, Gateway was facing COVID-19 issues, with two players out after testing positive, leaving just seven varsity players for Coach Justin Marino to send in. But it was Senior Night, so it gave the Panthers to time to honor point guard Neri Moreau and forward Paige Alise.
Then, with Osceola waiting on their bus to take them across team, the game began late. Once it did began, Osceola took early leads before the Panthers made up for lost time -- quickly.
On her way to a "point guard triple double" (15 points, 14 assists, 12 steals), Moreau scored 10 points in the first quarter. Malayna Stevenson (26 points) also had 10 in the first quarter as the Panthers took a 22-13 lead in the first quarter on the way to a 91-33 romp over the Kowboys.
In the second quarter, Soleil DeJesus scored 10 of her 12 and Vanessa Diaz had 14 of her game-high 28 points, as the lead stretched to 52-17 at the half. Even with a second-half running clock and Marino with just two players to sub in, GHS was able to keep hitting shots to score a season-high -- and possibly school record, the coaching staff is checking -- 91 points.
Jenlyn Johnson was a bright spot for Osceola, with 19 points and nine rebounds.
Gateway travels to Harmony (1-10) Thursday, and a win would set up a de facto OBC championship game on Tuesday at St. Cloud (10-6), who is also unbeaten in county play with three games remaining.
