By TODD TRAUB
Leader sports editor
Graduation is a few months away but it was still a happy sendoff for Cabot’s seniors.
The Lady Panthers jumped on Van Buren early and rolled to a 68-43 victory in the last home game at Panther Pavilion on Tuesday night.
“I thought we played really hard and played well,” Cabot coach Carla Crowder said. “And they did a great job for our seniors.”
Four players had 10 or more points for the Lady Panthers, including senior and leading scorer Kaki Thomas, who made four three-pointers and scored 18.
“Our fast start was really good because it set us up for the rest of the game,” Thomas said. “It means a lot because we wanted to end our home season on a good night and I love my basketball team.”
Junior Melissa Wolff scored 16 points, junior Laci Boyett scored 13 and sophomore Elliot Taylor had 10.
Cabot opened up a 17-9 lead after one quarter and led 0-19 at halftime. The Lady Panthers didn’t let up as they outscored the Pointerettes 18-7 in the third quarter and 20-17 in the fourth.
“It was amazing,” senior Hilary Russell said.
“I’m really happy we won.”
With the victory, Cabot earned the 7A/6A-Central’s No. 2 seed to the 7A state tournament in Rogers next week.
“It’s the best seed of the tournament,” Russell said.
The Lady Panthers wrapped up the regular season at Russellville on Friday night.
“When you have seniors like we do, they were no problem,” Crowder said.
“They both work hard. They‘re really good people and it just makes life easy.”
