Panther boys remain outside top five

A hot start to the 2013 portion of the schedule was not enough for the Powell Panther boys’ basketball team to find its way back into Class 3A’s top five, according to the latest round of coaches’ and media rankings at Wyopreps.com. The Panthers received the most votes of any unranked team in the poll.

According to the latest round of rankings, Star Valley remains the team to chase in Class 3A boys’ roundball, garnering 17 of the 20 first-place votes distributed in the inaugural poll of 2013. Buffalo, the No. 2 team once again, earned the remaining three first-place votes from those responding to the poll.

Rounding out the top five are Wheatland, Rawlins and Lyman. The Panthers defeated Lyman this past weekend, knocking the school down two rungs in this week’s poll.

The Panthers were one of four additional schools in Class 3A to receive mention in this week’s poll. The Panthers were named on five of the 20 ballots returned. Powell received one third-place vote, one fourth-place vote and three fifth-place votes in the polling.

Douglas, Jackson and Cody also received mention on two or more ballots this week.

The Panthers can make their case for additional votes this weekend. Powell hosts Cody on Friday before taking on Class 4A No. 2, Riverton, on Saturday. The Wolverines received one first-place vote in this week’s Class 4A poll at Wyopreps.

The first girls’ basketball poll of 2013 was scheduled to be released Thursday morning. The Panthers had been the No. 4 team in the state over the holiday break, but a rough weekend on the road could cost the team when the latest hierarchy is unveiled. A new high school wrestling poll at Wyowrestling.com should also be unveiled on Thursday morning. The Panthers were the No. 2 team in Class 3A, having ascended into that position prior to the holiday break.