Sun Sets on Panthers' Season Wednesday Night

Very rarely can the same songs be heard during the Panthers' pre-game routine as when they're playing a home game.

Throughout this season, Panthers fans have heard mixes—featuring songs by artists like Wiz Khalifa and Rick Ross. Before the state playoff game against the Medford Vocational Technical High School Jaguars (Med-Tech) Wednesday night, Collingswood's mix included "The Show Goes On," by Lupe Fiasco. And no song resonated more-closely with game's turnout than that one—the last song the Panthers heard before taking court.

“The show goes on,” blared the words of rapper Lupe Fiasco, through the gymnasium’s speakers. “Anybody ever wonder when they would see the sun go?”

Unfortunately for Collingswood, the sun went down for good Wednesday night. Med-Tech stopped the show, with the Panthers losing 76-66.

The contest wasn’t nearly as close as the score suggested, either. For each of the game’s 32 minutes, Panthers struggled running the floor against Med-Tech opponents. Tech began the game on a 13-4 run, and never looked back.

There wasn’t a quarter’s end that saw Collingswood with a lead.

Jaguars killed the Panthers from the perimeter, as they converted on an astounding nine three-pointers in the game. And they took Collingswood’s spirits from the inside, as well.

Two members of the Panthers’ front court, seniors Julian Welsh-White and B.J. Jones—who recorded 13 and four points, respectively—fouled-out with time to spare in the fourth quarter. And both men let tears stream down their faces when leaving the court, with Jones going so far as to tear his jersey down its seam. Their basketball careers, in all likelihood, were now over.

“There’s just too much going through my head,” said Welsh-White as he tried to compose himself Wednesday night. “It’s tough. This was the last home game for me. It’s the last everything. I just knew there was no tomorrow if we lost, and now, there’s no tomorrow.”

The abrupt end in Collingswood’s season came, largely in part, by Jaguars' seniors Dante Martinez and Kalik Sutton. Martinez recorded 24 points, while making only a single, two-point field goal. Each of his points came from either behind the arc or the free-throw line, where he went 10-12. Sutton contributed with 16 points, including a three-pointer during the final minute in the fourth quarter, which extended the Jaguars' lead to two possessions. It was a dagger into the hearts of each individual Panther.

Bright spots were few and far between for Collingswood, but the fourth quarter certainly brought out the best in a few Panthers.

Senior guard Karon Waller had his best-scoring period in the fourth, as he dropped eight of his 16 total points in the game’s final eight minutes. Junior guard Chris Michael, one of Collingswoods’ few returning players, scored five of his nine points in the fourth, including a three-pointer from the right wing that breathed a brief sign of life into the team.

“It’s tough to lose,” said Michael. “We just came out and played hard and, unfortunately, we lost tonight. It’s hard to believe the season’s over. I’m going to miss (the seniors). We need to look forward to next year, though. Right now, we need to start working for next year.”

While their sun went down on Wednesday night, the Panthers' superior on-court reputation leaves no shadow of doubt that, by next season, they'll rise again.