By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director

JACKSONVILLE – At times this basketball season, the Collinsville Panthers have had trouble scoring. That proved to be the case again on Wednesday against Westbrook Christian in the Class 3A Northeast Regional at Jacksonville State University’s Pete Mathews Coliseum.

The Panthers managed just nine points in the first quarter, 12 in the second, and six in the third. Meanwhile, the Warriors played a little more consistently in a 57-45 decision to carry them on to Tuesday’s regional final.

“In the second half, I thought our defense kind of wore on them a little bit,” Westbrook Christian coach Neal Wester said. “Our guys made some adjustments and kept 3 (Sylas Adams) out of the lane a few times. Our length kind of bothered them.”

Collinsville coach Jon Tidmore said Westbrook “kept their hands high and they were real physical when we got to the rim.”

“We had several layups that were in and out. We didn’t finish,” Tidmore said. “I think that would have helped us be a little closer at halftime.”

Mason McAteer led the Panthers (17-8) with 18 points. Adams added 10 points, seven rebounds, and three assists.

Gavin Lang tossed in six points on a pair of 3-pointers with four rebounds. Bentley Jones finished with five points and four boards.

Meanwhile, Westbrook had four starters score in double figures led by Bo Kilgo’s 13 points, five rebounds, and three assists. Brady Carden contributed 12 points, six rebounds, and three assists. Brodey Wood also scored 12 points. Titus Jones managed 10 points and four rebounds.

Case Burton came off the bench to score 10 points and grab five boards.

Collinsville trailed 15-9 at the end of the first quarter and 30-21 at halftime. The Panthers held Westbrook to just nine points in the third, but offensively they could only score six as the Warriors took a 39-27 advantage.

“I thought we got stop after stop after stop, but we just couldn’t score,” Tidmore said. “But I’m proud of our effort.”

In more ways than one.

For the first time in 10 years, the Panthers reached the Northeast Regional. Adams said this season’s team was glad to end that drought.

“When we were younger, we would come down here and watch games. It was always real special to watch the bigger guys play down here,” Adams said. “It’s been like a tradition to come down here. That tradition was broke for a while, for 10 years. To be able to come back down here has been great. I’ve enjoyed this season a lot.”

The Panthers are hoping this season is the beginning of things to come. They graduate just two seniors in Sam Stewart and Perry Steward.

Adams, along with McAteer and Lang, will help form Collinsville’s core again next season.

“We got a little taste of what it feels like. Hopefully it will motivate our team to come back down here next year and do it again,” Adams said. “I think that’s a huge thing for us, getting a taste of it and believing in ourselves that we could make it down here.”

“I’ve been playing with these guys my whole life,” McAteer added. “It’s just fun playing in Jacksonville with my brothers.”

“Being down here has been a blessing,” Lang said. “This year has been real fun.”