Basketball Recap: Jacob Anderson's Big Game Can't Quite Lead Hancock over Paw Paw

Hancock lost against Paw Paw back in January, and unfortunately they wound up with the same result on Saturday. The Hancock Panthers came up short against the Paw Paw Pirates, falling 74-52. While losing is never fun, the Panthers can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' basketball rankings in their respective home states (they are ranked 274th in Maryland, while the Pirates are ranked 118th in West Virginia).

Jacob Anderson

Assists (Career)

02/22/25 vs Paw Paw	6
01/30/24 vs Hyndman Charter School	5
01/13/25 @ Paw Paw	4
12/21/23 vs Salisbury Elk Lick	4
02/13/25 vs Bishop Walsh	3

Several Panthers players turned in solid performances despite ultimately coming up short. Perhaps the best among those players was Jacob Anderson, who posted 14 points in addition to seven boards and six assists. Those six assists gave Anderson a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of Ethan Hill, who put up 11 points and five rebounds.

It was another big night for Donavan Tanouye, who dropped a double-double with 34 points and 17 boards for Paw Paw. That makes it 15 consecutive games in which Tanouye has scored at least a third of Paw Paw's points. Another player making a difference was Taylor Carder, who dropped a double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds.

Hancock has been struggling recently as they've lost six of their last eight matchups. That's put a noticeable dent in their 7-11 record this season. Paw Paw's victory bumped their record up to 7-14.

Both teams are looking forward to the support of their home crowds in their upcoming games. Hancock will challenge Maryland School for the Deaf at 7:00 p.m. on Monday. The teams are on pretty different trajectories at the moment (Maryland School for the Deaf has three straight wins, Hancock has three straight defeats), but none of that matters once you're on the court. As for Paw Paw, they will be playing in front of their home fans against Bishop Walsh at 7:30 p.m. on Monday.