Read Dallas Morning News recap of the Invitational's Monday highlights here: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/highschools/topstories/stories/122810dnspohsmansfield.779b07.html

MANSFIELD, Texas -- Behind the play of junior forward Itiana Taylor and senior forward Adesuwa Ebomwonyi, the state-ranked Panthers earned two opening-day victories at the annual Mansfield Rotary Invitational Tournament on Monday, defeating Arlington-Martin HS (48-47) and Mansfield HS (64-59). The wins move the Panthers into Tuesday's winners bracket 11:30 a.m. quarterfinals where they will face Amarillo HS in a game at Mansfield HS. You can view the pairings, results and tourney history at www.mansfieldinvitational.com.

Now 16-3, Pflugerville is ranked 11th in the most recent Texas Association of Basketball Coaches/Tex Preps Basketball Magazine weekly poll. Amarillo beat 4A Fort-Worth Dunbar (ranked 17th in TABC/Tex Preps 4A poll), 67-58, and Marcus High, 59-47, in Monday's opening play.

Pflugerville defeated Arlington-Martin in Monday's 8 a.m. game behind Taylor, who nailed a jumper with 8.7 seconds to go to give the Panthers the win.  The Panthers trailed 47-46 with 17 seconds left and had the ball. Following a Panther timeout, P'ville inbounded the ball and found Taylor for the game-winning shot.

Ebomwonyi led the way with a double-double (double-figure scoring and rebounding), collecting 13 points and 10 rebounds along with four steals and two blocks. She was the only Panther in double-figures, as Taylor and senior guard Curtiesha Woods each had eight points and senior guard Jasmyn Booker and sophomore guard Taliyah Brooks added six points apiece. Taylor pulled down seven rebounds and Brooks had a game-high six steals. Senior DyMesheon Hyder (four points) collected five rebounds. 

The Panthers led at intermission, 18-15, in the low-scoring contest. This was the second time Pflugerville and Arlington-Martin (12-5) met this season. The two 5A squads played in the Greater Austin Tournament championship semifinals on Nov. 19 at McNeil HS where Pflugerville posted a 49-36 victory.

In the Pflugerville-Mansfield game, Taylor (15 points, eight rebounds) and Ebomwonyi (14 points, four rebounds) led the way for the Panthers. Taylor also had team-highs of four blocks and six steals. Brooks added nine points, five rebounds and a steal, while Woods finished with eight points and three boards. Junior guard Ari Booth had six points and Booker collected five points and handed out four assists.

Mansfield held a one-point lead at halftime (32-31) and had defeated Grapevine in its first tourney game, 58-46.