This has certainly been a banner year for athletics at Panorama High School. The girls cross country team finished second at state last fall, which was the best finish by any sport in school history. Now fresh off a school record five place-winners at the state wrestling tournament, the girls basketball team is just three wins away from the school’s first state title.

The Panther girls will enter next week’s state tournament at 23-1, the best record among the final eight teams. They defeated the Des Moines Christian Lions in the Class 2A Region Six Championship game, 36-33. Senior Devyn Kemble and junior Bailey Beckman, who both reached the 1,000 point mark this season, led the way in the game with double-digit scoring.

Superintendent Shawn Holloway is proud of the team’s accomplishments, and sees this as an indicator of what rural schools can achieve. “That just shows our strength, dedication to extra-curricular activities. I think those are the lifeblood of a small, rural school. Our winter season’s been tremendous. Just trying to keep that train rolling.”

This is the first time the girls’ basketball team has qualified to state since 2013. The team’s quarterfinal opponent has yet to be determined, as two regional finals were postponed to tonight.