The buzzer sounds,  the cheering section erupts and pandemonium fills the field house. The Panthers have just defeated Big Moe in the Pit and now stand at 13-0 on the year and 1-0 in the GCL. Every panther loves the feeling of beating Moeller; it never gets old.

The Elder Basketball team is having a tremendous year and the success does not come from one single player. The team has had key contributors throughout the season. With key returning players this year the team knew coming in that they were poised for a terrific run.

Returning from the team last year are Brad Miller, Joey Sabato, Frankie Hofmeyer, Mitch Moorhead, Kyle Orloff, Peyton Ramsey and Aaron Held. All have contributed to the team with the experience to push the team deep on a long playoff run.

The Panthers started off hot beating Western Hills, and a very tough Walnut Hills team at home. Then they headed down to Florida for the annual tournament that they attend. This was started two years ago and has been a huge success. They recently won back to back tournaments in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

They went 3-0 this year and played some very impressive competition. Coming back from Florida, the Panthers were 10-0 and the team knew they had something special this year. They beat Roger Bacon after returning and were preparing for a tough game against the Oak Hills Highlanders.

It was a true Westside battle, but the Panthers were able to push past the Highlanders and come to a magnificent 12-0. Franke Hofmeyer hit some big shots and the Elder defense was in full force for the Panthers as they took down the Highlanders.

One of the key focus points in the preseason for this team was defense. A tenacious defense is always associated with the Panthers. Whenever you step foot on the basketball court expect a battle in the trenches and bodies diving for balls.

The schedule featured Moeller the same week as Oak Hills. This was a very big test for the team and the cheering section. Moeller is always tough, but at home and in the Pit anything magical can happen. And so it did, the Panthers went on to beat the Crusaders.

If it wasn’t for Junior Guard Frankie Hofemyer there would have been a blemish on that perfect record. Hofmeyer had a great game hitting key shots when we needed them and one when the game was on the line. With a close call reversed under their basket, the Panthers got the ball back with a few seconds left.

Brad Miller inbounded the ball to Frankie and he took it baseline and put in a layup that sets the Panthers on top. As time expired the crowd went bananas as the Panthers took down the Crusaders at home. They improved to 13-0. The last time the Panthers took down the Crusaders at home was when the man himself Kyle Rudolph was on the team.

“I was looking for a three ball, but I saw that nobody was on the baseline so I decided to take it to the hoop and it paid off,” said Hoffmeyer.

With key wins against Fairfield and Lakota West the Panthers moved to 15-0 with another big GCL matchup against the St. X Bombers. The bombers are young this year but they can shoot the rock when called upon. But the Bombers were not able to come into the pit and knock off the Panthers.

The Panthers then traveled to LaSalle for a good old Friday night GCL showdown. Many students were not able to get tickets due to the Cracker Jack box of a gym they have. Rawley Cook, a senior was very angry about the ticket situation. “I should have been at that game cheering on the Panthers to a win, instead I was watching it online,” said Cook.

It sure was a shootout, with Brad Miller putting up 18 points but not enough to help us get the win. The Panthers fell to the Lancers 61-54. The sophomore for the Lancers, C.J. Fleming shot lights out and had 21 points. With help from Jeremey Larkin as well dropping 17.

When the Lancers enter the pit on senior night for the last game of the season you better believe the pit will be rocking and the 6^th man will be in full force.