By Marissa VanWingen, The Times Citizen.
Ellsworth Community College needed a little reminder of how to win.
After suffering their first back-to-back losses of the season, the Panthers bounced back for a big week on the hardwood and going 3-0. The wins weren't even close, averaging 47-point victories.
The most recent squad to feel ECC's rath was rivals Iowa Central Community College (5-16, 0-11). The Panthers earned the season sweep with a 69-40 win.
The first quarter the Panthers (17-3, 8-2) were not playing their best ball. They were on top by eight (19-7) before the last-place Tritons went on an 8-0 run to end the stanza trailing 19-15.
The second period is when the rout began. Post player Taylor Ross drained a long ball to jumpstart the run. ECC went on an 11-0 run with a pair of Laia Santanach triples to pull ahead by 12 (30-18). The lead was 38-20 at the break.
Coming out of the locker room, the Panthers did not take their foot off the gas and scored 11 of the first 12 points of the second half and built a 29-point advantage on a Ross make. When Ross went to the bench in the fourth with the big lead, she was a perfect seven for seven from the floor and led all scoring with 18 points. Santanach hit five of the squad's seven triples to finish with 15 and Marin Agustsdottir was also in double figures with 12 points.
"Our balanced scoring came back to find it and we got people got back involved and we will see how it translates next week as we go into a really tough matchup at NIACC," said head coach Justin Rees said. "It's still pretty early, but it could decide who hosts a playoff game. That's something we haven't done here in at least 30 years, if not longer. We're excited about the opportunity and know we have a big opportunity ahead of us."
ECC remains in second place in the Region XI standings, but travel to a hungry NIACC squad on Wednesday. They Trojans are currently third in the ICCAC. The Panthers won by four when the two met in Iowa Falls Nov. 30.
Fore more photos, visit: https://www.timescitizen.com/gallery/1-25-25-ecc-vs-iowa-central-basketball/collection_cb8a777a-dc21-11ef-9231-f79b6369a919.html#1
ICCAC Basketball
Saturday at Iowa Falls
IC: 15| 5| 7| 13 – 40
ECC: 19| 19| 17| 14 – 69
ECC Scoring: Taylor Ross 7 3-3 18; Laia Santanach 5 0-0 15; Marin Agustsdottir 5 2-2 12; Ella Sharar 3 2-2 9; Favour Anyaele 1 7-8 9; Claudia Sanz 1 0-2 2; Rosario Panadero 1 0-0 2; Nile Celaya 1 0-0 2.