Fannett Metal 48 Shade 41

The year was 1988 and the Fannett-Metal Tigers had just beaten Mansfield in the first round of the State playoffs 60-46.  The Tigers would have to wait 30 years to experience a playoff victory.  That victory came in the form of a 48-41 victory over the Panthers of Shade in the first round of the District 5 A playoffs Wednesday night.  The Tigers came out of the gate slow, surrendering a 9-0 run to Shade to start the game.  However, the Tigers would end the quarter on a 10-4 run to pull within 3.  The Lady Tigers kept the momentum going in the 2nd quarter having built a 23-17 lead with 2:31 remaining in the half.   The Panthers then, responded with a 6-0 run of their own to tie the score at 23-23 at the break.  Shade scored the first 4 points of the second half only to have FM respond with a 7-0 run and take a 30-27 lead.  This is a lead the Tigers would not lose the rest of the game.  At one point, the Panthers closed to as many as 2 points, but the Tigers responded with another run and secured the victory. The Tigers were led in scoring by Coffman 19 points, Hoffmann 18 points, Johns 6 points and 12 rebounds, Adams 2, K Ritchey 2, and M Ritchey 1 (11 rebs).  The Tigers return to action on Tuesday when they take on top seeded Berlin at Berlin at 5:30.