The Benton Lady Panthers are experiencing a bit of déjà vu this week.
After defeating Marion 5-3 in the 6A State Semifinals last weekend in a come-from-behind thriller, Benton punched its ticket to today’s final and against a familiar foe — Sheridan.
“Our kids wanted to play Sheridan,” Cox said. “Greenwood is great, too, and we would have loved the rematch from last year (semifinals) with them, but we are excited to play Sheridan. We were pulling for our teams (6A South). It is going to be a fun game.
“I know Sheridan is hungry and really wanting it, but we have been fighting and we are hungry, too. We were disappointed with not getting back to the finals last year.”
The Lady Panthers split with Sheridan in the regular season, but still took home the 6A South title for the second straight year.
The last time Benton was in the finals was 2014 against the rival Lady Yellowjackets. In a game that many still talk about today, the Lady Panthers had to beat arguably the best pitcher in the state, Sydney Bonner, to capture the crown.
Thanks to a late-inning, three-run home run from then freshman Breanna Langford, Benton brought the title back to Saline County with a 4-2 victory.