Maysville Panthers Earn Third Straight State Tournament Bid

Jordyn Watson's hot shooting helps the defending champions pull away from Circleville in the regional final

Mar. 14, 2026 at 10:48pm

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The Maysville Panthers secured their third consecutive trip to the state tournament with a 72-52 victory over Circleville in the Division IV regional final. Senior Jordyn Watson, who had been struggling with injuries and illness, found his shooting touch in the first half, knocking down four 3-pointers to help the Panthers erase an early deficit and take a 32-29 lead at halftime. Gator Nichols took over in the second half, scoring 20 of his 28 points to lead Maysville to the comfortable win. The Panthers will now face Cincinnati Wyoming in the state semifinals, a rematch of last year's double-overtime thriller that Maysville won.

Why it matters

Maysville's run of six straight regional championships and three consecutive state tournament appearances is a testament to the program's sustained excellence under coach Dave Brown. The Panthers have become one of the premier small-school basketball programs in Ohio, and their continued success at the highest level has brought pride and recognition to their community.

The details

After falling behind 24-18 in the first half, Maysville closed the half on a 14-5 run capped by a pair of 3-pointers from Watson to take a 32-29 lead into the break. Nichols then took over in the second half, scoring 20 of his 28 points to help the Panthers pull away. Landon Iden also made some key plays, driving for a hoop to start a 9-3 run that put Maysville up 45-39 late in the third quarter.

  • The regional final matchup took place on March 13 at Ohio University's Convocation Center.
  • Maysville will face Cincinnati Wyoming in the state semifinals, a rematch of last year's double-overtime thriller that the Panthers won 75-73.

The players

Jordyn Watson

A senior for the Maysville Panthers who has been a key contributor during their run of three straight state tournament appearances. He knocked down four 3-pointers in the first half to help the Panthers erase an early deficit.

Gator Nichols

The leading scorer for Maysville, pouring in 28 points, with 20 coming in the second half to help the Panthers pull away.

Dave Brown

The head coach of the Maysville Panthers, who has guided the program to six straight regional championships and three consecutive state tournament berths.

Riley Jenkins

A player for the Circleville Tigers, who scored 17 points in the regional final loss to Maysville.

Jack Kline

Also a player for the Circleville Tigers, he added 10 points in the regional final defeat.

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What they’re saying

“They can motivate an ant and we responded. I've been struggling the past few weeks. But I feel like I got back into my groove. It's a huge confidence boost heading back to state.”

— Jordyn Watson, Senior, Maysville Panthers

“When we need Jordyn, he always shows up. People have been questioning how he's been playing, but he showed up in a big way.”

— Dave Brown, Head Coach, Maysville Panthers

“Landon often gets overlooked, but he played great defense and made some big hoops, and Gator had a big second half. We missed some open looks in the first half, but we made enough shots to stay in it.”

— Dave Brown, Head Coach, Maysville Panthers

What’s next

Maysville will face Cincinnati Wyoming in the state semifinals, a rematch of last year's double-overtime thriller that the Panthers won 75-73.

The takeaway

Maysville's sustained excellence under coach Dave Brown has made them one of the premier small-school basketball programs in Ohio. Their third consecutive state tournament appearance is a testament to the team's resilience and ability to rise to the occasion when it matters most.