Jack Leasure Shooting and Skills Camp Regional Preview: Elba, Panama to duel for trip to state Class D semi-finals

The Section V and VI Class D champions will meet on Saturday when Elba and Panama take the floor at Finger Lakes Community College. Elba, the Section V representative has only lost twice in their past 13 games, while Section VI’s Panama is looking to win its sixth regional title since 2015. Here’s the breakdown:

ELBA LANCERS (20-4/Genesee Region II)
vs.
PANAMA PANTHERS (9-13/Chautaugua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association West Division II)
Saturday, Finger Lakes CC, 6:00 p.m

How they arrived here: Elba opened up sectional play with a 98-32 win over Romulus. The Lancers then beat league foes Notre Dame-Batavia 55-47 to move to the semifinals where they defeated Avoca-Prattsburgh 55-43. A 56-54 sectional championship win over Finney pushed Elba into the Far West Regional. Panama picked up wins against North Collins (72-12), Clymer (53-44), and Sherman (53-49) to earn a spot in the Far West Regional. 

Scoring offense: Elba (60.3 PPG), Panama (45.1 PPG)

Scoring defense: Elba (40.5 PPG), Panama (51.5 PPG)

Trends: The Lancers have won 11 of its last 13 games, including five straight. Panama has won its past seven games, four of which being double-digit victories. 

Players to watch for Elba: Maddie Hall Jr. G 5.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 3.0 APG; Mariah Ognibene Jr. F 9.0 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 2.0 APG; Sydney Reilly Jr. G 24.0 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 5.0 APG, 4.0 SPG; Lydia Ross So. G 15.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 4.0 APG, 4.0 SPG

Players to watch for Panama: Kaitlyn Horton 9.5 PPG, 6.8 RPG; Kylie Morgan 9.5 PPG, 7.4 RPG; Kiera Loberg 7.7 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.9 SPG

Coaches: Charlie Pangrazio (Elba), Nicole Peterson (Panama)

History 101: Elba has won six sectional titles since taking the Class D state championship in 2012. The Lancers have made regionals as recent as 2017 and 2018 but fell both times. This is Panama’s sixth trip to the Far West Regional since 2015, and in that span the Panthers have won five regional titles and one state championship. The Panthers defeated Keshequa in the 2023.

What’s at stake: A spot in the Class D state semi-finals against the winner of Northville (II) and Boquet Valley (VII).