Westfield is 8-2 against Panama since February of 2021 and they'll have a chance to extend that success on Thursday. The Westfield Wolverines will host the Panama Panthers at 7:30 p.m. Westfield is coming into the match hot, having won their last 13 games.
Last Sunday, Westfield beat Allegany-Limestone 50-42. The 50-point effort marked the Wolverines' lowest-scoring contest of the season, but in the end it didn't matter.
Carson Swanson
| 01/19/25 vs Allegany-Limestone | 30 |
| 01/16/25 vs Clymer Central | 34 |
| 01/13/25 @ Brocton | 39 |
| 01/09/25 vs Chautauqua Lake | 29 |
| 01/06/25 vs Maple Grove | 43 |
Carson Swanson was his usual excellent self, almost dropping a double-double on 30 points and nine steals. His evening made it 36 games in a row in which he has scored at least ten points. Zach Maguire was another key player, almost dropping a double-double on nine points and 11 boards.
Meanwhile, Panama strolled past Maple Grove with points to spare on Tuesday, taking the game 71-52. Given the Panthers' advantage in MaxPreps' New York basketball rankings (they are ranked 136th, while the Red Dragons are ranked 639th), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.
Westfield better keep an eye on Carter Brink. He was instrumental in Panama's win, putting up 30 points along with six steals and five assists. That's the most steals Brink has posted since back in February of 2024. Another player making a difference was Bryce Hinsdale, who posted 11 points.
Panama pushed their record up to 10-2 with the win, which was their fifth straight at home. Those victories came thanks to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 72.2 points per game. As for Westfield, their victory bumped their record up to 13-1.
Rebounding is likely to be a big factor in this contest: Westfield has been smashing the glass this season, having averaged 36.7 rebounds per game. However, it's not like Panama struggles in that department as they've been averaging 34.9 boards. With both teams battling to corral missed shots, we'll see if one team can grab an edge.
Westfield took their win against Panama in their previous matchup back in December of 2024 by a conclusive 77-55. Will Westfield repeat their success, or does Panama have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
