If Shea Panter is going to stay at Hickory Creek, the school is going to have to invest in a bigger trophy case. Panter has developed a dynasty in District 1 guiding the Lady Hawks.

Hickory Creek picked up another tournament championship Thursday, winning the D1 preseason tournament held at Irving College. The Lady Hawks downed the hosting Lady Tigers 16-2 in the championship game. It came just two nights after Hickory Creek also held Boyd to just two points in a dominant semifinal victory.

Panter has led the Lady Hawks to every D1 championship dating back to 2020, a run of dominance that has rarely been tested. Winning is never a given though, something Panter teaches every young group of girls who come through her program at Hickory Creek.

“We are always very excited to win. A fun part of coaching this age is any group can win any given night,” said Panter, who has been coaching girls basketball locally for over a decade. “Their age lends to lots of unpredictable play. We are pumped for another season and look forward to learning and growing so we can compete in the postseason.”

Hickory Creek competes in District 1 with fellow K-5 schools Bobby Ray and West, as well as Irving College and Boyd. The Lady Hawks have been flying high for years, with their only local losses coming when the two local districts are paired up in the end-of-year county championship.

The Lady Hawks could be playing in the big game again this year as the roster looks restocked on the floor. Panter was able to employ an army of small and fierce guards last week to slow down both the Lady Broncos, who won their first elementary games in five years in the preseason tourney, and the Lady Tigers. 

Offensively, Hickory Creek relied on its speed and tenacity to get the job done. Hailey Geesling was the star in the second half, scoring all of her six points after the break when the Lady Hawks led just 4-2 coming out of the locker rooms.

Maebry Yates also had six points in the title game, while Layla Berrie Guthrie finished with four. All three scoring Hawks, along with defensive dynamo Avery Bryant, were named to the all-tournament team.

Kylee Ballew scored Irving College’s lone bucket in the first quarter. For the final three periods, the Lady Tigers were unable to find the range as they finished as a familiar runner-up to the Lady Hawks.

The elementary regular season will start Tuesday.