Watervliet Public Schools

The Watervliet Panthers fell to the visiting Gobles Tigers in the 2026 District Championship Friday night, 40-32. In a game that was closer than the final score showed, the Watervliet Panthers put together their best performance of the year from start to finish. Defense was the name of the game as the game was tied at 4 a piece after the first quarter. Leila Liberto Taylor hit the Panthers only three point field goal in the frame and finished the contest with 5. The scoring started to open up in the second quarter as they Panthers tallied 8 points and trailed Gobles by 2 going into the break. The Panthers quickly tied the game in the second half, as Daijahnae Hatcher scored 2 of her team high 10 points early in the third however the Tigers were able to take a 24-20 lead going into the final frame. Much like the in the third, the Panthers scored a couple quick buckets to tie the game up but couldn't quite get over the hump. Gobles hit a pair of three point field goals and 8 free throws in the final frame to ice the game. In addition to Hatcher's 10 and Liberto Taylor's 5, Gianna Berry provided a second half spark defensively forcing Gobles' best ball handler into a number of turnovers and scoring 6 points herself. Rounding out the scoring for the Panthers were Hailey Adams 4, Aubrey Winnell 4, Kate Kostrzewa 2, and Emma Owens 1. The Panthers finish the year at 9-15 and 4-6 in the SAC Lakeshore Division.