Boys hammer Pinedale by 30, ease past Mountain View by 12

It was the fourth quarter of a conference basketball game, and the four seniors on the Powell High School Panthers boys basketball team were enjoying the contest.

From the bench, that is.

Kalei Smith, Carter Baxter, Zach Heny and Matt Sweet were satisfied spectators as the Panthers wrapped up a 30-point win over the Pinedale Rustlers on Saturday afternoon at the Panther Gym. The blowout win, added to a comfortable 12-point triumph over the Mountain View Buffalos at home Friday night, moved PHS to a 3-1 record in 3A West play and an overall mark of 8-6.

Head coach Chase Kistler said even though his team was playing a pair of squads on the bottom of the standings didn’t mean they did anything differently.

“No, I treat every game the same,” Kistler said Sunday. “The same preparation, same routine and same intensity for every week.”

Baxter had his best offensive game of the season Saturday, scoring 20 points in the first half en route to a game-high 25 to go with seven boards. Smith worked around foul trouble to add 20 points and 10 rebounds before taking a seat.

Heny had seven points and Jake Gallagher, back this weekend after the flu cost him two games, chipped in six.

Kistler said Baxter had an excellent offensive game.

“His best game? Points, yes this was his best game, but he had a good game against Worland and Buffalo in the Basin tournament,” Kistler said. “He is playing well and his leadership is helping this team come together.”

“I think this weekend we had very positive team approach,” Baxter said. “We seemed to move the ball around from post to wing. We had better ball rotation than we had last week. I think we’re starting to click a lot more and it’s only going to get better.”

The senior said it was his best game of the year, and as an inside scorer and rebounder, he welcomed matching up against players his own size. The previous weekend, the Panthers faced centers who were 6-9 and 6-8.

“They didn’t have near the height,” Baxter said of Mountain View and Pinedale. “It helps open up things for me and everybody else so we can penetrate and not have to change your shot. You’re not as tentative getting to the rack.”

He admitted these games were “not near as challenging” as those against Lovell and Lander Valley, a pair of contests the Panthers split. But he said the team showed signs of improvement that should pay off down the road.

Powell 67, Pinedale 37

PHS jumped on the Rustlers early and often, building an 18-9 lead after the first quarter. Baxter led the way, scoring 10 points.

When Heny nailed a 3-pointer to open the second period, the route was on. Baxter grabbed a Smith miss, hit a turnaround jumper and was fouled. His free throw made it 26-14 with 5:05 to play before the half.

The Panthers played tight defense, forcing turnovers and earning easy shots. Baxter dropped in a lefty lay-up to make it 28-16 and then Heny made a steal, went the length of the court to score and added a point from the charity stripe. Baxter ended his first-half heroics by scoring after he picked himself off the floor after a collision sent three players sprawling.

The Powell players were in a good mood in the second half, chatting and joking on the bench and the court. Their smiling approach didn’t harm them, however, as they extended their lead to 52-28 as the third period came to a close.

Kistler used his bench extensively, as every Panther got a chance to prowl. Smith took a seat after gliding in for his last bucket and the four seniors then became cheerleaders.

“It helps a lot, especially on Saturday games,” Baxter said. “As Kalei said, we don’t see the bench that often in close games.”

He said while it’s nice to get a rest, it’s equally important for the other players to get in and develop. They will be needed to play significant roles later in the season.

Pinedale is now 0-4 in conference play and 1-12 on the season. Junior guard Jordan Costello led the Rustlers with 17 points. Three players had four. The Rustlers shot 13 of 34 (38 percent) from inside the circle and 2 of 15 (13 percent) from outside it.

PHS hit 25 of 45 shots from in close for 56 percent but just 1 of 7 from the outside, shooting 14 percent from 3-point range.

Powell 52, Mountain View 40

Mountain View came into the game at 3-9 and 0-3 in 3A West play, but the Buffalos put up a fight in the first quarter and for most of the second. PHS eventually built a 10-point lead behind 15 points from Smith in the first half.

The Buffs were paced by senior guard Austin Housekeeper, a first-team all-state performer last season, who had 10.

The Panthers had a 27-18 lead at the half and Smith passed to build the lead to double figures to open the second half, finding an open Gallagher for a hoop. When Baxter added a jumper, PHS was up by 13 points and the game was well in hand.

Alex Housekeeper nailed a 3-pointer to try to bring Mountain View back but Kaden Moore responded with a triple to make it 39-25.

Kistler was able to rest Smith and Baxter while Heny dropped in five that period and the Panther reserves maintained control of the game. When a refreshed Baxter hit a 3-pointer early in the fourth, PHS had a 47-32 lead.

Smith picked up his fourth foul shortly after that, however, and went back to the bench. Baxter scored all eight Powell points in the final period and the Panthers clamped down, holding the Buffalos to 3 of 14 from the field in the final eight minutes.

“I don’t see it as a rotation,” Kistler said. “I look at it as match-ups and if someone is tired or in foul trouble, that also determines length (of) playing time. It would be nice to have eight or nine guys that can all contribute to the team. We could then play faster and be a little more aggressive.”

Smith scored 19 and added eight rebounds. Baxter had 13 points and Heny added nine. PHS hit 18 of 41 shots, good for 44 percent, but just 3 of 13 (23 percent) from distance. 

Austin Housekeeper paced Mountain View with 18 points while his brother Alex Housekeeper added nine and five rebounds. Colton Aimone had six boards.

The Buffs shot poorly, hitting 15 of 45 from 2-point range and 2 of 12 from outside the circle.

Kistler said he was pleased with his defense, for the most part, and glad the bench was able to step up to fill minutes with Smith and Baxter on the pine. The Panthers also passed better, he said.

The Panthers have just one game this weekend but it’s a big one. They host Cody (8-5, 3-1 in Class 3A West) at 7:30 p.m. Friday.