Every young talented basketball team needs to learn a few important facets of the game to become a postseason contender.

One of those facets is learning how to win or learning how to close a team out.

On Tuesday, Panther Valley checked that very lesson off its learning list as the Panthers (3-3) held a lead throughout most of the game and were able to make plays down the stretch to defeat rival Marian, 71-64.

After both teams battled to a 12-12 score after one, PV was then able to create some separation, although it wasn’t by much. After a nice set play to open the second set up Michael Pascoe for an inside bucket, followed by a triple by Stephen Hood, the Panthers led by five with 6:40 remaining. PV would up its lead to as much as nine in the frame, but the Colts (3-2) would not go away and would battle back to trail by seven at intermission.

The second quarter was the start of an offensive approach by the Panthers, which featured their ability to get to the basket and get good looks from close range. Ben Kindt and Hood were big for PV during that stretch, combining for 14 of the Panthers’ 20 second-quarter points.

“Our guys did a great job of beating their man, getting their man on their hip and getting into the lane. I think our guys just did a good job of taking what the defense gave us,” said Panther Valley head coach Pat Crampsie. “We played hard, we played unselfish and we made the extra pass and found open guys when they doubled us. It was just a total team effort where our guys didn’t force anything and made good decisions.”

Fast forward to the fourth quarter, where business certainly picked up. Trailing by four after the third, the Colts started to pick up some momentum. A deuce by Joey Walko and a three from Julius Currie gave Marian the lead for the first time since it led 8-7 in the first quarter. An inside bucket by Pascoe on the Panthers ensuing possession would give PV the lead right back, but the Colts once again clawed back to retake the lead after a Jose Espaillot-Turbi bucket (52-51).

“I think we showed flashes tonight, and I liked the way we fought back and we were in the game all night despite not playing in eight days and not practicing in five or six days,” said Marian head coach John Patton. “We just made too many mental mistakes and we just broke down mentally a little bit late in the game, but we’ll get there.

“Credit to PV, that’s a tough team, who is coached well and they’re big and physical, and they were able to get some things inside on us because of that.”

The rebounding edge in this one certainly went to the Panthers, but it was even more impactful coming down the stretch in the fourth. An offensive rebound by Pascoe converted into a layup swiped the lead back from Marian (53-52) and PV would never relinquish it.

The Colts did get back within one (60-59) after an Espaillot-Turbi steal and lay-in at the 3:05 mark, but a 6-0 run from the Panthers - capped by a Kindt triple from the left wing - would up the Panthers’ lead back to seven with just under two minutes left to play.

“Tonight was our best game, as far as a total team effort goes, and our play on the boards kind of exemplified that,” said Crampsie. “Everyone who came in tonight contributed and made plays that helped us win this ball game. And learning how to win an intense game like this is something that we needed to learn how to do. The guys kept their heads and made the plays and got this one, which is one you always want to get in this rivalry.”

LEADERS ... Hood led the way for PV with 16 points, with Pascoe and Kindt each adding 15. Brendan Lonergan scored a game-high 20 points for Marian and Logan Fritz added 15.

STEPPING UP ... The Panthers got a bunch of important buckets from a lot of players in this one, but four points from Geno Turner in the second, and two triples from Cody Orsulak in the third came at crucial times in the game.

WINDEX MEN ... As noted, rebounding was critical on the night. Hood and Pascoe were a force in that department. Hood led everyone with an impressive 18 rebounds.

MARIAN

Fritz 4 5-7 15, Espaillot Turbi 5 0-0 10, Silliman 0 0-0 0, Valente 2 1-4 5, Ramirez 1 0-0 2, Walko 1 1-2 3, Bobish 0 0-0 0, Lonergan 7 6-7 20, Currie 4 0-0 9. TOTALS: 24 13-20 64.

PANTHER VALLEY

Kokinda 1 0-0 3, Weaver 3 3-6 9, Orsulak 2 0-0 6, B. Hood 0 0-0 0, Kindt 4 6-8 15, Pascoe 5 5-8 15, S. Hood 5 5-6 16, Hadley 1 1-2 3, Turner 2 0-0 4. TOTALS: 23 20-30 71.

Marian 12 13 20 19 - 64

Panther Valley 12 20 17 22 - 71

Three pointers: Marian - Fritz 2, Currie 1; Panther Valley - Orsulak 2, Kokinda 1, Kindt 1, S. Hood 1.