Hutchison steady in wake of tragedy

Mike Sims

Thursday, Jan. 27, 2005 | 9:31 a.m.

The Palo Verde girls' basketball team started slowly this year, but after coping with transition and tragedy, the Panthers seem to be on the right track.

On Wednesday night the Panthers beat Mojave 69-42, riding a 19-2 third-quarter run to the upset.

"This team has gone through its ups and downs with personal issues," Palo Verde coach Gina Piccolo said. "It's been a while since I have had the whole team together. I was excited to have them all out there tonight."

At first, injuries plagued the Panthers. But a far more personal tragedy hit home earlier this month when two Panthers players lost their younger brother to an avalanche.

Allen Brett Hutchison, 13, Hutchison was riding the ski lift at the Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort on Jan. 10 when he was swept away by a surging wall of snow.

"(Brittany Hutchison) was out for about a week and a half dealing with the death of her brother," Piccolo said. "Brittany plays 115 percent. Sometimes she plays the whole 40 minutes. I think she and her sister (Chanel) have learned a life lesson and are trying to live life to the fullest."

On Wednesday, Brittany Hutchison led all scorers with 22 points. Hilary Scott had 14 points and eight rebounds, while Don-nise Coleman added a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

In'Desha Chatman finished with 13 points, five rebounds and two blocked shots for Mojave.

"We were playing good defense but I told the girls they had to pick it up one more notch," Piccolo said.

They didn't just pick it up one notch - Palo Verde turned it up a few. The Panthers scored 10 unanswered points in the first 90 seconds of the third quarter to take a 37-26 advantage.

"We had to execute and control the boards and I think we did that," Piccolo said. "This is a completely different team."

Hutchison and Mikala Pride combined for 16 points in the third quarter.

Palo Verde then held the Rattlers to two field goals in the final eight minutes.

"This is a very diverse group of girls and they are starting to buy into the system," the Panthers coach said. "We haven't peaked yet."