Panthers pound Warriors

Posted 1/17/13

Powell (4-1, 6-5) got off to a sluggish start against the winless Warriors, finishing the first quarter in a 13-13 tie.

“We came off a tough weekend,” said head coach Mike Heny. “It was just a matter of making sure we found that energy on …

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Panthers pound Warriors

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Boys 4-1 in past five games

The Powell Panthers boys’ basketball team rebounded from its Saturday loss against Riverton by routing the Worland Warriors 68-35 Tuesday night.

The road win was the Panthers’ fourth victory in five games since coming back from the holiday break.

Powell (4-1, 6-5) got off to a sluggish start against the winless Warriors, finishing the first quarter in a 13-13 tie.

“We came off a tough weekend,” said head coach Mike Heny. “It was just a matter of making sure we found that energy on defense.”

That energy came in the form of the 6-foot-2 junior Hayden Cragoe, whose aggressive defense has been key in the Panthers’ recent success.

“His energy, especially on the defensive end, willed everyone else to get going,” Heny said.

The Panthers were up eight by the half, and never looked back.

The Warriors were able to score only 10 points in the third and only a single free throw in the fourth for a total of 11 second-half points against Powell. The Panthers, meanwhile, picked up the slack and scored 36 in the final two quarters.

Sophomore Kalei Smith led the Panthers in scoring for the third straight game with a season-high 22 points.

Smith scored his season-high 22 points without the benefit of a 3-point shot. He was 6-of-10 from the free throw line.

Panthers head coach Mike Heny said good ball movement, often leaving the athletic Smith with a lone defender, led to the high scoring output.

“(It) gave him the advantage of making the catch and driving by his guy,” Heny said. “If he has that one-on-one match-up, he’s going to win a lot of those.”

Cragoe and senior Marshall McArthur scored 11 points apiece. Senior Justin Lynn and sophomore Carter Baxter each had eight.

Heny said his team has been attacking the rim more instead of settling for jumpers that cut possessions short.

“Being aggressive has been our emphasis in the past couple weeks,” Heny said.

The Panthers have a 10-day break before returning to the court at home against Lander. Heny said he would like for his team to be able to ride their momentum but will use the break to keep his players fresh and work on some offensive skills.

“It’s a long season so maybe a couple days rest here in the middle will allow the kids to recharge the batteries,” Heny said.

The Panthers play Lander Friday, Jan. 25 at 7:30 p.m. and Pinedale Saturday, Jan. 26 at 2:30 p.m.

Hoop standings

3A West boys

Latest Wyopreps rankings — 1. Star Valley, 2. Wheatland, 3. Rawlins, 4. Lyman, 5. Buffalo. Receiving votes: Douglas, Powell, Jackson.

3A West girls

Region IX North men

Region IX North women

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