The No. 2 Panthers will go on the road to prepare for their Skyway opener at Oakton on Tuesday night. They will look to extend their 34-game winning streak in the regular season and open conference play with a victory.

That excludes games played in the Region IV Tournament and Nationals. The Panthers have also won 34 straight at the Henry J. Vais Gymnasium and will look to regain momentum after a few weeks off. 

"We had a long break since we last played. I am looking forward to getting back on the court with the team. We have put a lot of work in, and we are ready to start our hunt for the conference title," Frannie Metz said. 

The ability to play tremendous basketball on both ends of the court has allowed the Panthers to execute at a high level. Some of the better teams at the NJCAA level may have a star scorer or two.

The Panthers have a bevy of weapons at their disposal, which has given issues to the opposition. Picking out one star is impossible on this team because there are so many players to defend. 

Mia Simpson has been unstoppable near the basket after leading the NJCAA DII ranks in field-goal percentage a season ago (64.2). She is up to her winning ways again, leading the nation (73.8), but there have been several other success stories for the Panthers.

Claire Hyde is averaging nearly 20 points per game and leads the nation in made three-pointers (57 in NJCAA, DII). Her quick release on all outside shots has been seemingly impossible to defend for all opposing teams.

We have seen eight games of at least 20 points by Hyde, and those games featured the sharpshooter connecting on 44 three-pointers. To put those games in perspective, the 44 made shots would put Hyde fifth nationally for made three-pointers. 

Kaylen Evans is averaging just under 19 points a game and has made 45 three-pointers on the season. That ranks fourth-most behind Hyde, and then there is Jalyssa Carrasco. Her 40 made three-pointers are the eighth-most in the NJCAA DII ranks.

The Panthers are averaging 12.3 made three-pointers, which is second in the nation, and their talents have shown the ability to hit well over a dozen in any given game. 

Looking at some of the top teams in the Skyway, Oakton could be their toughest competition.

The Owls recently suffered their first loss of the season. It was against Bryant & Stratton (WI), so this matchup should challenge the Panthers. 

At 11-1, Oakton is one of the better offensive forces in the nation. Their offense has been sizzling on the season, averaging 93.7 points per game (No. 3) and 38.4 field goals per game (No. 2). 

The Owls are a productive three-point shooting team as they lead the NJCAA DII ranks at 47.7%. That stacks up well against the No. 2 Panthers, which could dictate the matchup. 

The road tilt will feature a pair of talented backcourts. Ellie Reynolds and Nessa Walsh are averaging 30-plus points a game for the Owls. Their efficient production from behind the arc should be thrilling to watch against Claire Hyde, Kaylen Evans, Mia Simpson, Jalyssa Carrasco, and company. 

There will be a quick turnaround after the Tuesday night showdown. The Panthers will return home to host McHenry County on Thursday at 5:15 pm. 

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