Knocking on the Door

Mallory Moeller and the Navarro Panthers are making a push for a title.

Last year the Panthers went 28-5 overall, with a district record of 9-1.  It was the fourth straight year the team made it to the regional quarterfinals, and this year Coach Harborth and his squad are determined to push to higher ground. So far this season they are 14-2 having lost to Highland Park & Poth.

Clearly, one of the biggest reasons the Panthers have a realistic chance to make it to STATE in '07 is #21 senior Mallory Moeller who was named co-MVP of district 27AA along with her teammate Jade Randall. Mallory is a real spit-fire that brings it on defense while leading her team with her energy and offensive fire-power. This 5'11 post has the skills to play any position from point guard to center.  Last season, in 32 games, she scored 604 pts, was 58% from the floor, 36%  from 3 pt line, 65% from free throw line, had 269 rebounds, 65 assists, 5 blocked shots, and 119 steals.

This season the "MALL" is avaeraging over 23 pts, 7 rebounds and 3 steals per game. Mallory received statewide honors in basketball last year, as well as being named all state in Volleyball.  This year, in addition to her school athletics she is a varsity cheerleader and plays on an AAU basketball team out of San Antonio.  

Jade & Mallory wearing rally cups

#34 senior Jade Randall grabs another big board.

Every legitimate championship chase begins with a great point guard and the Panthers are no exception behind the guidance of 5'9 Jade Randle. Last season, in 33 games, she scored 346 pts, was 53% from the floor, 34% from the 3 pt line, had 144 rebounds, 203 assists, and 166 steals. Jade has superb reflexes and an excellent first step speed.  She is a major defensive threat to opponent's point and can push the rock with the best of them.  Jade is also an all district volleyball player, as well as a state qualifying runner in the 100 hurdles and the high jump.

This season Jade is avaeraging over 17 pts, 7 assists and 6 steals per game. Jade was recently accepted to Harvard where she plans to run track in college.

 #4 Haley Helweg (5'10") last year played back-up for the forwards, but this year she starts and averages 7 pts and 4 rebounds a game.   

#25 Brittany Parker (5'6") plays both guard and forward. Brittany is the three point bomber for the Panthers shooting almost half her shots from behind the stripe.  In addition to basketball, Brittany plays volleyball and track.

But the Panther stories are about Coach Darrell Harborth and his flying teeth. The girls all love the "teeth" stories the best.  Coach Harborth was born without the two teeth on either side of his top front teeth.  He has a device that is called a flipper that holds his fake teeth in place (it looks like a retainer with two teeth attached).  If his mouth gets dry, and he starts talking rapidly his teeth have a habit of slipping (or flying) out of his mouth.   
        
In the 4th quarter of a really tight game, Coach Harborth got a little agitated at a call by the referee.  When trying to make his point, his teeth went flying out onto the court!  Without missing a beat, coach bent down, picked them up and put them back in.  Easily the fastest anyone had ever seen him move.  The entire bench erupted in laughter. In another game, he was drawing out a play during a time-out and they plopped out right on his board.

Assistant Coach Laurie Gilcrease says,"The most quoted one by the girls is the time we were playing a home game and they had not performed well at all during the first half of the ball game.  During half time in the dressing room, Darrell was letting the girls know what he thought of the first half play when his teeth came flying out of his mouth.  All the girls just stood there, not knowing what to do because they didn't want to make him mad by laughing; however, the serious mood was blown by the assistant coaches trying to not fall down laughing behind the girls.  Everyone broke down and laughed, the moment for seriousness was lost, but the girls went back out and played a fantastic 2nd half and won the game."

We at TexasGirlsBasketball.com wish Coach Holbroth good luck with his canines and his team in '07.

Special thanks to Drew Engelke for allowing us to use his photographs.