1A state: Pahranagat Valley dismantles Owyhee in title game

Pahranagat Valley’s Ginger Whipple has been coaching volleyball for 35 seasons.

And there’s speculation that the legendary coach might be stepping down in leading the Panthers’ program.

If Saturday was Whipple’s final game, her team gave her a sweet going away present, a tidy three-game whipping — 25-11, 25-19, 25-16 — of Owyhee in the Class 1A final at Faith Lutheran.

It certainly was a business-like approach by the Panthers, who won in just under an hour.

Whipple certainly approved.

“We went our there and played our game, not worrying about the opponent,” said Whipple, whose team played in the state final for the 23rd consecutive season. “We know what we wanted to do, it was just a matter of going out there and executing.”

And execute is what the Panthers (21-11) did, led by Whipple’s grand daughter, Karley.

Karley Whipple turned in a workman-like performance in her final Pahranagat Valley match, finishing with 21 kills and 20 digs.

“I don’t care what anyone says. winning never gets old,” said Karley Whipple, who helped win the program’s 18th state championship under her grandmother’s leadership. “She (Coach) can really be tough at times but overall the experience has been one to remember. There’s no better feeling that winning a state title.”

Morgan Harris added 17 digs, 16 kills and an ace. Ashlyn Wadsworth finished with 26 assists, 15 digs and an ace, while Madalyn Taylor chipped in 21 assists and nine digs for Pahranagat Valley.

“We played some really tough teams to get ready for our league,” Whipple said. “I knew we were ready to play today, and it showed from the beginning.”

As far as the stepping down as coach questions, including those from Pahranagat Valley fans, Whipple had the same response.

“We have to wait and see,” she said. “Let’s enjoy this one.”

Owyhee, led by four kills each from Destany Pete and Rachel Gallego, finished the season at 19-7.