Will work for wins

Posted 12/8/15

To a degree, that includes Powell High School head coach Chase Kistler, and whether or not the uncertainty will be a positive for the Panthers is to be determined.

Powell graduated its top three scorers from last season, and along with them goes …

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Will work for wins

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Panthers prepared to grind as team

When the Powell Panthers boys’ basketball team tips off this weekend in Cody, no one will know what — or who — to expect.

To a degree, that includes Powell High School head coach Chase Kistler, and whether or not the uncertainty will be a positive for the Panthers is to be determined.

Powell graduated its top three scorers from last season, and along with them goes 80 percent of the Panther offense.

In the place of Kalei Smith (23.7 points per game), Carter Baxter (14.7) and Zach Heny (11.1) is a crew of young, as Kistler put it, “grinders,” who will wager that their relentless grit is greater than other teams’ go-to scorers.

“They know this is going to be a process — we’ve already discussed that,” Kistler said. “If we’re going to get victories it’s going to come from grinding it out and playing as hard as we can for four quarters. If we do that, we can find some wins, but it’s going to take everything we got. And it’s going to take us to stick together and keep a great attitude.”

Kistler said his team isn’t without skill, but much of that skill is either not yet identified or developed, and until it is, the Panthers will need every player to contribute, especially early on.

“What’s nice about what we have this year, we’ve got five guys that no one’s going to know who’s going to be the scorer,” Kistler said. “I don’t even know. Really, I’m waiting to see who’s going to step up and take the lead. I’ve got an idea who can do it, but it’s going to be nice to have five guys who are going to be a threat out there.

“Teams can’t just focus on one or two kids. So I’m kind of excited for that. Our guys have been running our offense pretty well.”

With just 3.4 ppg last season, Kaden Moore returns as Powell’s top scorer. Moore was primarily a 3-point shooter as a junior (60 percent of his shot attempts came from behind the arc), but Kistler said some added bulk, time spent refining his shot, and plenty more opportunity could make him a more dynamic scorer this season.

“He’s put on some muscle, coming in his senior year he’s developed a little more,” Kistler said. “I hope he plays a little physical and is willing to go down and get some points at the rim, but also still be confident to step out and hit that three. His shot has really improved, too, this year.”

Senior Kristian Stenlund and junior T.J. Abraham also stand to benefit from more time on the court, and with the ball, after playing more peripheral roles last season.

It’s not just points that need to be replenished, however. Baxter averaged a team-high 8.1 rebounds per game, followed by Smith’s 7.8.

Max Gallagher, Zach Meredith and Aaron Jacobsen could bring some needed size to Powell’s frontcourt, but may have to gain some experience in order to grasp the speed and complexities of the game and stay on the court.

“We have more posts than we’ve had in the past, but they’re young,” Kistler said.

Rosters have yet to be finalized, but Kistler said he could envision some underclassmen making an impact this season.

“Some sophomores are going to have to step up, maybe even some freshmen are going to have step up,” Kistler said. “So we’re hoping maybe they can develop quickly, but we don’t want to throw them into the fire right away. They’re going to have to earn it and work their way up that ladder.”

Whether it’s offense, defense, or team leadership, Powell’s 2015-16 season is going to be a team effort. Team play is often a platitude coaches lean on to avoid singling out individuals, but Kistler’s commitment to the ideal fits with the style and attitude he expects the Panthers to embody.

Without a standout scorer — at least as of now — the Panthers will rely on their defense to generate points.

“We’re hoping our defense leads to points,” Kistler said. “When we do get up the court, we get up fast and get some quick transition points. And if we can’t get transition points then we want to take care of the ball and wait for a good open shot.”

Powell will play as aggressive as their depth and conditioning allows them.

“We’ve got about four or five kids that pride themselves on playing defense. If we can match up with a team it will be full court, man-to-man, but we have to be careful with our depth. How long can we do that and not run ourselves out of the gym?”

If Powell proves capable of sustaining the necessary defensive intensity, they could make the Panther Gym one of the least favorite places to play in the Class 3A West.

“I would hate to play us, too. It’s not pretty basketball. It’s the grinders and the people running into people and, ‘Oh, sorry, let me help you up,’” Kistler said as he mimed fighting for a loose ball.

Kistler has seen the Panthers play with tenacity during practice, and he hopes it translates to regular season action.

“I’m watching this scrum for the rebound and I’m going, ‘I would not want to be in the middle of that,’” Kistler said. “If we can do that, we can put some second chance points in there a lot.”

The Panthers will take their season for a test drive Friday and Saturday against three Eastern Conference teams — No. 3 Rawlins, No. 5 Wheatland and Newcastle — at the East-West Classic in Cody. The Panthers open against Newcastle at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, then open Saturday’s action with an 8:30 a.m. game against Wheatland, followed by a long break and a 6 p.m. game against Rawlins.

Powell was not one of the nine 3A teams to receive votes in the Wyopreps preseason polls. Northwest foes Lovell and Cody were ranked eighth and ninth, respectively, while Lander also did not receive any votes. Worland opened as the top-ranked team, followed by Buffalo. Star Valley is ranked No. 4 and the only team from the West to crack the top six.

Kistler said the first weekend, and even the following weekend in Buffalo, will be about self-evaluation.

“It’s going to be kind of an eye-opener of, this is the speed you guys are going to have to play at. But then I think they’ll settle in and kind of find a groove. Right after Christmas break is when we usually start getting things put together.”

“My main focus is to put them in a live situation,” Kistler said. “I want to see how they handle it, react to it.”

If the Panthers handle it well, and mask their inexperience with unmatched work ethic, how will their opponents handle it?

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