The Washington Panthers Historic Season Ends With A State Title!

The Washington Panthers did it! They won the class 3A State championship! 

It was a closer game than last time because Glenwood had their best player on the floor this time. Alexis Neumann had a good game for Glenwood. At the end of the 3rd quarter, the Panthers were up by just four points. Then, Avery Tibbs happened. She scored 13 points in the fourth quarter. She ended up with 24 points on 81.8% shooting from the field. The Panthers were victorious 60-45. They won the state championship for the first time in school history.

I talked with some of the seniors about their high school careers.

Here is senior Dani Guedet talking about becoming a state champion, and completing the team’s goal of finishing on top.  “This year's goal was for sure to win it all. We came into season knowing what we wanted to do and tried to work as hard as we could to get it. It’s truly a dream to be able to go out this way with this team. I wouldn’t want to do it with anybody else and I’m so proud of our career as lady panthers. The support from Washington was something from a movie and it was felt by all of us so I’d say it was the best ending to our high school careers.”

Avery Tibbs also felt that same emotion. “It feels amazing! It’s crazy to think that I will never put on a Washington jersey again but am so excited we ended it by winning the Championship!”

Avery gave high praise to Coach Barth.  “She has been HUGE! Honestly we couldn’t have done this without her. It is really hard to coach talent and she did an amazing job all season. It goes unnoticed how much time she spends scouting and preparing us for success. We couldn’t have done this without her and I am so happy to have gotten to play for her for all of my 4 years of high school!”

Becca McDougall was able to lift a state trophy with her younger sister, Kate. Something you only find in story books.  “It’s an opportunity I will never get again! I am so thankful to have done this with my sister and can’t be more proud.” Kate McDougall will be a catalyst for Washington, as she started all year long as a freshman. 

Mazzy O’Brien said the crowd all season long drove this team to the finish line. 

“It’s an amazing feeling knowing that we were able to come back this year and finish the job! I’m so happy with all of the support we received today, we ended this season as state champs not only for us but for them.”

This senior group has been playing together since grade school. I asked Mazzy one of her favorite memories. “My favorite memory is probably freshman year when the upper class man would pick us up and take us for late night drives blasting music and getting icecream.”

I talked to Coach Barth and asked her if the plan was to give the ball to Avery in the fourth quarter, or if it was an in the moment decision. “Avery kept saying during the game that the opposite was open. The defensive steal and pass from Mazzy to Avery ignited the run. And then Avery did Avery things. She’s the best shooter in the state and when she’s not she needs the ball. Her teammates got her the ball and it was amazing.”

Coach Barth talks about what impressed her the most while coaching this team. “The work ethic. They showed up everyday ready to work. We rarely had a bad practice. They were committed and dedicated during a long season and never backed down to any challenge. They wanted the schedule we had and to be challenged.”

The 2026 Washington senior class will go down as one of the greatest of all time. 1 2,000 point scorer 3 1,000 point scorers. 

Avery Tibbs Becca McDougall Mazzy O’Brien 

24-5 2022-2023

23-7 2023-2024

36-2 2024-2025

35-2 2025-206

118-14 record 

The senior class had an unbelievable run. I asked coach barth what she thinks about Washington’s senior class. “They are legends. The best team to ever play at Washington. They have broken every record and obtained the ultimate goal. They are great athletes but even better young women. They will all achieve amazing things in life and I can’t wait to watch the next chapter.”

The Washington Panthers in the past four years will go down in history. Here is what they accomplished. 

118-14 

3 conference championships

4 regional championships 

2 sectional championships 

2 super sectional championships 

1 state 3rd place

1 state championship 

To cap this article off, I wanted to tell the 2026 Washington Panthers something. If they are reading this, ladies, this year was a blast to cover your games. It will be a year I'll never forget. Thank you for all the time you give me, all the answers, and all the memories that have been written and remembered.