In fact, it got just two full squad practices ahead of its season opener together after the football team’s season ended last week in the PIAA Class 3A semifinals against Avonworth.

The good news for the Panthers is that chemistry has helped build success on the gridiron and the hardwood.

Friday was a reminder of that as the Panthers cruised to a 64-25 victory against Cambria Heights in the Ron Davidson Roundball Classic at Central Cambria High School.

Penn Cambria will face Conemaugh Township in today’s championship game at approximately 12:30 p.m.

Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski Penn Cambria's Jace Davison is pressured by Cambria Heights' Travis Kubat.

“We didn’t know what we were going to expect from our football players (to start the season),” Penn Cambria coach Jim Ronan said. “We know that they’re tough and athletic kids, but basketball and football shape are completely different. It’s almost like they didn’t skip a beat.”

It all started with a 12-3 run sparked by a Caden Gibbons takeaway with about six minutes left in the opening frame. Gibbons finished the evening scoring 12 points.

That outburst continued during the second as Nick Marshall knocked down a pair of 3-pointers on his way to scoring a game-high 18 points. He converted five 3s.

The Highlanders didn’t drain a field goal until the early portion of the second quarter as Brayden Farabaugh put away a 3-pointer.

Midway through the second, the Panthers stepped on the gas even more as Colvin Mallory took a feed from Marshall, which helped build the lead to 31-10 at the break.

Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski Central Cambria's Rocco Barra is pressured by Conemaugh Township's Greyson Studer (left0 and Colin Dinyar.

“They were ready to play (last) Saturday after their loss,” Ronan said. “That’s the type of competitors they are, and they just make our group so much better. I have a great core of kids who don’t play football, but when you mix those guys in, they’re a really fun group to be around.”

Penn Cambria thrived at the 3-point line, draining 12 of those attempts compared to the Highlanders’ two.

Cambria Heights coach Eric Nagel’s squad is facing the challenge of having to start over this season as the Highlanders have just one returning letterwinner from last year’s team.

“Every day we just want to get better,” he said. “The reason we come here is to play that kind of competition. Penn Cambria is going to be solid. We turned the ball over a little bit too much — they were strong with it. We got to find a way to put it in the basket.”

Ronan is excited about what this season could hold for the Panthers as they move their focus to this afternoon’s championship game.

Conemaugh Township advanced with a 52-39 victory over host Central Cambria behind Colin Dinyar’s 16 points.

“It might be my deepest team that I’ve ever had,” Ronan said. “Even the sophomores that I put in at the end of the game, very athletic, know the game very well, can score a little bit. It’s a good problem to have. We just got to continue to find the mix that makes us the best going forward.”

Heights and Central Cambria will play in today’s consolation game at 11 a.m.

PENN CAMBRIA 64, CAMBRIA HEIGHTS 25

CAMBRIA HEIGHTS (25): Clawson 0 2-4 2, Farabaugh 3 0-0 7, Kabat 0 0-2 0, Ivory 0 0-0 0, Lobick 0 0-0 0, Ivory 0 0-0 0, L, Kline 3 0-0 6, M. Kline 1 2-4 4, DeArmet 1 3-6 6, Dutko 0 0-0 0, Thomas 0 0-0 0, Bradley 0 0-0 0. Totals –8 7-16 25.

PENN CAMBRIA (64): Marshall 6 1-2 18, Rice 1 0-0 2, Gibbons 5 1-2 12, Semelsberger 2 0-0 5, Mallory 4 0-0 9, B. Jones 1 0-0 3, Nadolsky 1 0-2 3, G. Gides 0 0-0 0, Himmer 0 0-0 0, Price 0 0-0 0, Davison 1 0-0 2, Lilly 3 0-0 7, Foreman 0 0-0 0, C. Gides 0 0-0 0, N. Jones 0 0-0 0. Totals — 25 2-6 64.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Cambria Heights 3 7 9 6 – 25

Penn Cambria 12 19 20 13 – 64

3-point field goals: Cambria Heights 2 (Farabaugh, DeArmet), Penn Cambria 12 (B. Jones, Nadolsky, Marshall 5, Rice, Gibbons, Semelsberger, Lilly, Mallory).

Records: Cambria Heights (0-2), Penn Cambria (1-0).

CONEMAUGH TOWNSHIP 52, CENTRAL CAMBRIA 39

CONEMAUGH TOWNSHIP (52): Dinyar 7 1-2 16, McClemers 5 2-4 12, Stango 6 0-0 13, Studer 3 3-4 9, Brote 1 0-2 2, Lohr 0 0-0 0, Dail 0 0-0 0. Totals — 22 6-12 52.

CENTRAL CAMBRIA (39): Swope 3 0-0 8, Kutchman 3 2-2 8, Brouse 3 0-0 7, McCloskey 4 0-4 9, Barra 2 0-0 5, Sinosky 0 2-2 2, Howard 0 0-0 0, Muldoon 0 0-0 0, Jackson 0 0-0 0. Totals — 15 4-8 39.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Conemaugh Township 12 12 13 15 — 52

Central Cambria 4 5 28 2 — 39

3-point field goals: Conemaugh Township 2 (Dinyar, Stango); Central Cambria 5 (Swope 2, Brouse, McCloskey).

Records: Conemaugh Township (1-0), Central Cambria (0-1).