Girls hold Buffalo scoreless for almost 11 minutesWhile all the talk from the weekend rightfully focused on Powell girls' basketball team's late-game and overtime drama in the 3A championship contest, there were other games played in Casper. Two of them, in fact. The Panthers secured their spot in Saturday's title contest with a 49-40 victory over Buffalo. That win came hot on the heels of a 41-26 opening-round win against Wheatland. “The girls really enjoy playing Buffalo,” Powell head coach Luke Danforth said of Friday's semifinal contest. “They're a well-coached team. They're strong. They shoot the ball well and we usually see them a couple times each year. It almost feels like a conference game.”Toss in the dramatic rally Powell produced against the Bison one year earlier at the state tournament, and all the pieces were in place for a semifinal showdown.After opening the game with an 8-4 lead, the Panthers' offense stalled. Buffalo uncorked a 13-0 run to climb on top by nine points and appeared to have the Panthers reeling after tagging PHS for 19 points in the first quarter alone. “We made a point of stepping up and picking up our defensive pressure and going after the basketball on rebounds,” said Danforth, whose team ended the game with a 40-16 domination of the glass. “We did a good job of holding them to just one shot after that.”Gradually, Powell chipped back into the contest. The Panthers held Buffalo to just four points in the second quarter as the team pulled within 23-20 at halftime. Buffalo pulled away early in the second half, but the Panthers held the Bison scoreless for almost four minutes to end the quarter, during which time the team drew level at 31-31. Those four scoreless minutes were nothing compared to what the Panthers had in store for Buffalo in the final period. The Panthers opened the fourth quarter on an 8-0 run. The team didn't allow Buffalo a point until 1:02 remained on the Casper College scoreboard. An 8-for-9 display at the free throw line down the stretch iced Powell's place in the title game. “The girls showed good concentration at the line when they needed to,” said Danforth. “Katie (Kipp) really stepped up. She hit a layup to get us the lead at the start of the fourth quarter and finished with seven or eight points in the period.”Hannah Pollart finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds to pace the Panthers. Kipp added 10 points on the night. Other scorers included Leslie Thronburg with eight points, Savannah Donarski with seven, Kami Cooley with five and Olivia Rogers with two. Donarski also hauled down 11 rebounds in the game. Powell opened state tournament play against Wheatland. Once again, it was all about the defense as the team prevailed 41-26. “It was a solid effort on defense and rebounding,” Danforth said of the win. “Wheatland's two leading scorers came in averaging about 19 points per game for them. We were able to hold them to seven. It was a good opening round game.”After a slow start, the Panthers began to capitalize on Wheatland's foul trouble in the second period, opening a 21-12 lead. After an early second-half challenge from the Bulldogs, the Panthers were able to pull away over the final 12 minutes for a comfortable victory.“We did a good job of shooting free throws,” said Danforth, whose team finished 17-for-25 at the charity stripe in the game. “Savannah was 7-for-9, so she had a real good day shooting free throws.”Pollart was Powell's lone scorer to reach double figures, ending the game with 14 points. Donarski added nine points. Thronburg finished with eight points in Powell's opener, Rogers and Kipp each added four points and Cooley wrapped up Powell's scoring with two points. Powell held Wheatland to 20 percent shooting from the field in the game.

Girls hold Buffalo scoreless for almost 11 minutes

While all the talk from the weekend rightfully focused on Powell girls' basketball team's late-game and overtime drama in the 3A championship contest, there were other games played in Casper. Two of them, in fact.

The Panthers secured their spot in Saturday's title contest with a 49-40 victory over Buffalo. That win came hot on the heels of a 41-26 opening-round win against Wheatland.

“The girls really enjoy playing Buffalo,” Powell head coach Luke Danforth said of Friday's semifinal contest. “They're a well-coached team. They're strong. They shoot the ball well and we usually see them a couple times each year. It almost feels like a conference game.”

Toss in the dramatic rally Powell produced against the Bison one year earlier at the state tournament, and all the pieces were in place for a semifinal showdown.

After opening the game with an 8-4 lead, the Panthers' offense stalled. Buffalo uncorked a 13-0 run to climb on top by nine points and appeared to have the Panthers reeling after tagging PHS for 19 points in the first quarter alone.

“We made a point of stepping up and picking up our defensive pressure and going after the basketball on rebounds,” said Danforth, whose team ended the game with a 40-16 domination of the glass. “We did a good job of holding them to just one shot after that.”

Gradually, Powell chipped back into the contest. The Panthers held Buffalo to just four points in the second quarter as the team pulled within 23-20 at halftime. Buffalo pulled away early in the second half, but the Panthers held the Bison scoreless for almost four minutes to end the quarter, during which time the team drew level at 31-31.

Those four scoreless minutes were nothing compared to what the Panthers had in store for Buffalo in the final period.

The Panthers opened the fourth quarter on an 8-0 run. The team didn't allow Buffalo a point until 1:02 remained on the Casper College scoreboard. An 8-for-9 display at the free throw line down the stretch iced Powell's place in the title game.

“The girls showed good concentration at the line when they needed to,” said Danforth. “Katie (Kipp) really stepped up.

She hit a layup to get us the lead at the start of the fourth quarter and finished with seven or eight points in the period.”

Hannah Pollart finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds to pace the Panthers. Kipp added 10 points on the night. Other scorers included Leslie Thronburg with eight points, Savannah Donarski with seven, Kami Cooley with five and Olivia Rogers with two.

Donarski also hauled down 11 rebounds in the game.

Powell opened state tournament play against Wheatland. Once again, it was all about the defense as the team prevailed 41-26.

“It was a solid effort on defense and rebounding,” Danforth said of the win. “Wheatland's two leading scorers came in averaging about 19 points per game for them. We were able to hold them to seven. It was a good opening round game.”

After a slow start, the Panthers began to capitalize on Wheatland's foul trouble in the second period, opening a 21-12 lead. After an early second-half challenge from the Bulldogs, the Panthers were able to pull away over the final 12 minutes for a comfortable victory.

“We did a good job of shooting free throws,” said Danforth, whose team finished 17-for-25 at the charity stripe in the game. “Savannah was 7-for-9, so she had a real good day shooting free throws.”

Pollart was Powell's lone scorer to reach double figures, ending the game with 14 points. Donarski added nine points.

Thronburg finished with eight points in Powell's opener, Rogers and Kipp each added four points and Cooley wrapped up Powell's scoring with two points.

Powell held Wheatland to 20 percent shooting from the field in the game.