There are some wins during the course of a season that provide the potential for a team to go on a run.

That very win could have come for Panther Valley on Thursday night on the road at Marian as the Panthers were able to put together a big second-half effort.

PV fought back to take a late lead against the Colts and pulled out a 69-63 victory in a raucous road atmosphere.

“We came out in that second half, and our guys just really dug in and did a much better job of communicating on the defensive end,” said Panther Valley head coach Pat Crampsie. “We were a little late getting in help positions at times, and that hurt us. Credit to Marian as well, they were making some shots in the first half, but it was still just a two-possession game at the half, and our guys did a good job of bearing down and making plays down the stretch.”

The first half was a game of runs as each team took each other’s best shot.

PV exploded out of the gates, going on a 10-2 run, but then the Colts (7-2) answered going on a 14-4 run to take a 16-14 lead late in the first.

The Colts maintained the lead for most of the second as well, except for late in the quarter when the Panthers (5-3) battled back to take a 31-30 lead with 1:38 to go in the half, but Julius Currie hit a three and completed a three-point play to make it a 36-31 Marian advantage at intermission.

Currie and Panther Valley’s Chase Weaver played their version of whatever you can do, I can do better in the first half. Currie scored 18 points in the half, while Weaver kept the Panthers in the game, scoring 16.

“PV came out with their hair on fire early in the game,” said Marian coach Scott Murphy. “You can tell coach Crampsie got them fired up early. It seems every time we play them we get down early. But credit to our guys. We were able to circle the wagons and really got our offense going, making shots.

“I thought then in the third, we got into a little too much one-on-one ball, where in the first half we were sharing it a lot better. I thought the quality of the shots we were taking could have been much better too in that third.”

Marian struggled to score from the field in the third, connecting on just three field goals in that frame. The Panthers increased their defensive intensity and outscored the Colts 17-11, but still it was just a 48-47 PV lead heading into the fourth quarter.

For the first half of the fourth, it looked like the Colts once again found their offensive rhythm as they jumped out to a 56-52 lead behind seven points from Currie early in the quarter. However, the Panthers came up with their biggest run of the night.

A Connor Penberth triple, followed by back-to-back buckets from Stephen Hood put PV back on top by three. The teams continued to battle back and forth, and with 2:32 remaining, the game was knotted at 61-61.

A dry spell by Marian, as it missed four consecutive shots, opened the door for the Panthers, as they got two more huge deuces from Hood (65-61) and clutch foul shooting down the stretch from Weaver and Brody Breiner to close out the game.

“I saw our guys take a huge step tonight,” said Crampsie. “I saw them taking ownership, and talking and communicating on what they needed to do out there on the floor.

“What a night for high school basketball. It was a great environment, and I’m grateful that they let PV be a part of their night supporting Linda Agosti and her family, and also their court dedication to past and present coaches.”

WEAVER THROUGH TRAFFIC … When PV needed a bucket, senior Chase Weaver was there for the Panthers. Weaver scored a team-high 28 points, helping PV to outscore Marian 38-26 in the second half.

LEADERS … Helping out Weaver was Hood, who looked to be back in form after working his way back from injury, scoring 16. Penberth added 10. For Marian, Currie scored a game-high 29 points, including five triples.

WHAT A NIGHT … Marian’s gymnasium was standing room only as the school held a night in support of Linda Agosti and her family and the Believe 4 Linda Foundation. Linda has been battling ALS, and is the mother of four Marian graduates. The Colts also dedicated their court - Coach’s Court - to past and present basketball and volleyball coaches.

PANTHER VALLEY

Kokinda 0 0-0 0, Weaver 10 7-10 28, Fisher 1 0-0 2, Penberth 3 1-2 10, Jones 0 0-0 0, Breiner 2 3-4 7, Buyce 0 0-0 0, Maynard 1 0-0 2, Goida 2 0-0 4, Hood 7 2-2 16. TOTALS: 26 13-18 69.

MARIAN

Miller 4 1-2 9, Ja. DeLa Cruz 0 0-0 0, Je. Rodino 4 0-2 8, Tom 1 0-0 2, Thomas 2 0-0 6, Currie 11 2-5 29, Ja. Rodino 1 1-2 3, Hopeck 2 0-0 6. TOTALS: 25 4-11 63.

Panther Valley 16 15 17 21 - 69

Marian 18 18 11 16 - 63

Three-pointers: Panther Valley - Penberth 3, Weaver 1; Marian - Currie 5, Thomas 2, Hopeck 2.