Pana Erases Halftime Deficit to Defeat Taylorville

It was bragging rights night in girls basketball as Taylorville and Pana squared off in a rivalry showdown with a 4:30 tip-off, and the atmosphere matched the moment. The stands were packed, the energy was high, and it was orange versus purple in a game that lived up to the hype.

Taylorville’s Lady Tornadoes burst out of the gate, setting the tone early. Mckynlee Siempelkamp beat the buzzer to close the first quarter, capping a strong start that had Taylorville out in front 21–13. The Tornadoes continued to control the tempo throughout the first half, using balanced scoring and physical play in the paint.

Despite Taylorville’s control, Pana’s Brooke Cox kept the Panthers within striking distance. Cox was nearly unstoppable in the first half, pouring in 16 points on her way to a game-high 25. Still, Taylorville had answers, as Julie Wayman provided a strong presence down low, helping the Lady Tornadoes build a 39–28 lead heading into halftime.

The second half told a completely different story.

Pana came out aggressive, attacking the lane and putting pressure on the Taylorville defense. Joey Laker and Cox led the charge, hitting tough shots and cutting into the deficit possession by possession. By the end of the third quarter, the Panthers had trimmed the lead to just five, trailing 53–48.

Momentum fully shifted in the fourth. With 2:37 remaining, Cox drilled a deep three-pointer to give Pana its first lead of the night, igniting the Panther bench and silencing the home crowd. From there, Pana never looked back, executing down the stretch and completing a dramatic comeback.

Laker finished with 22 points, while Cox’s 25-point performance powered Pana to a statement win and brought the traveling rivalry trophy back home. It was a comeback victory fueled by toughness, composure, and just enough late-game magic to swing bragging rights in the Panthers’ favor.

Pana 66-62 win over Taylorville