This is my seventh season covering Siloam Springs basketball for the Herald-Leader, but I can't think of a better two-game stretch of basketball that I've seen for the boys basketball team than the two games last week against Alma and Bryant.
And that's really saying a lot too, because I've seen some pretty darn good boys basketball teams roll through Panther Arena and Panther Activity Center since the fall of 2009.
None of those teams -- not a single one of them -- ever won at Alma.
Not only did the Panthers win at Alma last Tuesday, Jan. 28, but they did so shooting 72 percent from the field in a convincing 73-46 victory.
It was a sight to behold for sure. I've always thought Alma's Charles B. Dyer Airedale Arena, which is one of the nicest facilities in the state, can be a challenge to play at because of its dark background and arena-like game lights. But the Panthers were sure up to the challenge and walked out with an impressive victory.
Then, on Friday, the Panthers stepped up to the challenge against the conference's only previously unbeaten team in Bryant, which came into the game 15-3 overall, 5-0 in conference play and ranked No. 4 in Class 7A.
Siloam Springs, led by a career-high 30 points from senior Kyle Snavely, powered past the Hornets in the second half for a 70-58 win at Panther Activity Center.
With the two wins, Siloam Springs moved up to No. 4 in Class 6A as ranked by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, and questions are being asked such as, "How good are these Panthers?"
Individually? Not very good. Aside from Snavely, who at 6-foot-7 is one of the biggest and best players in the league, I don't think many of these boys will have a shot at playing basketball in college.
But as a team? Now that's a different story. What you have here is a group of kids knowing their roles, playing hard, smart and together, and now they're beginning to reap the benefits of that.
And don't forget this either: This is a resilient bunch. This is a team that lost three dynamic players over the last two years. Avery Benson transferred to Springdale Har-Ber after his freshman season at Siloam Springs and is one of the Wildcats' top players. Luke Loveless was primed to be a sharp-shooter at Siloam Springs, but he transferred after his sophomore year to Providence Academy. Marquan Sorrells was as athletic as any athlete in the school, but he transferred after Thanksgiving, playing only one game and scoring 16 points.
Those are three really good basketball players who aren't here anymore. But, who knows, maybe if they were here some of the kids now playing key roles wouldn't have developed like they have.
It's been a fun season so far, and more is yet to come with these Panthers. I'm excited to see what they can do.
-- Graham Thomas is the managing editor for the Herald-Leader. He can be reached at [email protected]. The opinions expressed are those of the author.
Sports on 02/03/2016