The John Wall Holiday Invitational concluded the second day of action with a semifinal showdown between Purcell Marian and Panther Creek. The Cavaliers have clearly stood out as one of the top teams in attendance and the Catamounts of Panther Creek entered this contest fresh off beating an undefeated opponent, making this game anyone's for the taking.
Things kicked off in a highly competitive manner, as neither team was giving an inch throughout the opening quarter. Purcell Marian managed to piece together a few strong possessions to secure an 11-8 lead, but Panther Creek remained engaged. In the second period, the Cavaliers began to find some separation by forcing turnovers, controlling the glass, and pushing transition play. They entered halftime with a 32-25 lead over the Catamounts. Following the break, Purcell Marian put forth another highly productive offensive quarter and Panther Creek was simply unable to keep up with their scoring pace. After back-to-back quarters with 20 or more points, the Cavaliers led 52-36 to start the final period of play. Although the Catamounts continued to battle and work to close the deficit, they ultimately couldn't bridge the gap, as Purcell Marian claimed a 59-49 victory over Panther Creek.
