It was both the season and home opener for the defending Class 4A state champions under new head coach Ben Lindsey.
The Lady Panthers came from behind to win 56-44 and go to 2-0 in the young basketball season.
Derrian Ford, who was the Most Valuable Player at last spring’s 4A tournament, had the game-high 23 points. Right behind him was fellow sophomore Colby Garland with 21. Both Garland and Ford had four three-pointers.
Completing the sophomore triad was Adrien Walker with 17 points, including 11 points in the second half.
Magnolia’s last home game was in the semi-finals of the Arkansas Class 4A state basketball tournament, held at Panther Arena. Magnolia beat Jonesboro Westside 66-39 for the right to play Little Rock Mills in the state championship, which the Panthers won 78-76 in overtime.
A capacity crowd welcomed the Panthers back to the court on Friday night, hoping to experience the start of a new championship run.
El Dorado’s Jarmel Love hit the first basket. Garland responded with a three. The Wildcats Isaiah Ramey scored three and Brendan Simmons hit the second half of a shooting foul to put the visitors up 6-3.
But consecutive buckets by Ford, Braelyn Beasley and Kyle Carver – along with a Carver foul shot – gave Magnolia a 10-6 lead. Garland, Beasley and Walker piled on with three baskets and a 16-6 lead.
Simmons sank two foul shots but a Ford three-pointer gave Magnolia a 19-8 lead as the first quarter ended.
Magnolia outscored El Dorado 27-14 in the second quarter, including nine straight points from Ford by way of two three-pointers, a bucket and a foul shot.
Magnolia led 46-22 at the half.
The second half for Magnolia was notable mostly for Walker’s play. At 5-6, he is one of the shortest players on the Magnolia team. But that fact appeared to work to his advantage as he got under and through the big men to come up with the ball and lead the Panthers breaking past midcourt.
Beasley had 8 points. Carver had 6 points. Drevonte Dismuke and Phillip Simiyu had 2 points each.
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