The Panthers continued their winning ways Thursday night with an 85-25 victory over Lake County. They are atop the Skyway standings at 4-0 and are on the verge of possibly becoming the new No. 1 team in the NJCAA DII rankings.

The Panthers connected on 18 three-pointers and dominated their way with six players in double figures. They were spreading the wealth by producing 21 bench points. 

Josylin Simmons-Doxie and Gianine Boado combined for all of them as they were simply sensational. They consistently connected from three-point territory in the victory and will be valuable pieces to the puzzle come February and March.

"The game started slow in the first half. After that, we had to recover and continue playing. Our ball movement and extra passes create opportunities for open looks. In the end, that prepared me to be ready for the perimeter three. I am proud of how I shot the ball late in the game," Josylin Simmons-Doxie said. 

Mia Simpson posted a game-high 18 points and dominated near the basket like she has all season. The backcourt has been one of the best units in the country, thanks to a slew of players that can dominate possessions.

Jalyssa Carrasco has been balling this season, ranking in the top five for made three-pointers. She continued her productive season with 11 points and a trio of three-pointers to add to her season total.

Carrasco was one of four Panthers a season ago that dropped 20 points, so she has shown her talents for the past two seasons. While there are several stars to keep track of, the production has been there for the star guard. 

Four games into Skyway play this season, and the Panthers are plus-251 points. That is an average margin of victory at 62.8 points, better than their dominant season one year ago. 

Last season they were plus-516 in their perfect 12-0 Skyway season. That gave the Panthers a margin of victory at 43 points. While they are only one-third of the way finished, there are plenty of opportunities to keep the momentum rolling. Many Panthers have even mentioned how much practice has helped translate into their success.

"In practice, we focus on our shooting and pace. We started slow and had to rally back and play our style of basketball. We moved the ball around the perimeter and had open shots. I have been hitting shots in practice and know that it has to translate into the game, so I took the shots my teammates created for me," Gianine Boado said.

The Panthers will stay on the road for a matchup with Waubonsee at 5:15 pm next Tuesday. We could see the Panthers as the new No. 1 team in the NJCAA DII ranks next week, but they will need to await the rankings until Monday afternoon.

Catching fire in January and playing winning basketball has been a joy for Panther nation. If you miss any future home games in person, follow the team on our Facebook page and Youtube. Also, check out GoMCPanthers.com and our social media pages @McAthletics1924 for more upcoming featured recaps, previews, quotes, and all the latest news for Panther hoops.