PHS notches 3-0 record at East-West ClassicThe Powell High School girls basketball team apparently was ready for its first games of the year. Its opponents apparently weren't ready for the Lady Panthers.In three games at Cody's East-West Classic, the Lady Panthers dismantled Newcastle, Rawlins, and Wheatland by margins of 26, 35, and 30 points, respectively.“It's always nice to start with a win. Starting with three is a bonus,” said PHS head coach Luke Danforth.Danforth was pleased with the team's balanced scoring, strong defense and rebounding.“Everyone found a way to contribute,” he said.All 12 of the team's varsity players scored points during the weekend tourney — including 11 of 12 chipping in against Newcastle Friday night.In that 60-34 Lady Panther victory, they held Newcastle to 29 percent shooting and forced 26 turnovers.However, Danforth also noted that his squad lost 23 possessions to turnovers, a number they'll look to improve upon.The Lady Panthers put up buckets at a 40-percent rate.“For this early in the season, pretty good shooting,” Danforth said.Junior Savannah Donarski led the way with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Fellow junior Hannah Pollart led the squad in rebounds, pulling down 13 boards while putting up 10 points.Also scoring for the Lady Panther against Newcastle were Kelsey Allen (7 points) Darcee Lynn (7) McKenzie Danforth (4), Leslie Thronburg (4), Shellie Williams (3), Katie Kipp (2), Lauren Fagnant (2) Olivia Rogers (2) and Kami Cooley (1).Saturday morning, the Lady Panthers faced Rawlins and won 44-9. The Lady Panthers held the Lady Outlaws scoreless until about halfway through the third period. The PHS girls created 32 turnovers from the Rawlins' squad.“The defensive pressure really stopped them up,” Coach Danforth said.Lynn, a senior, and Donarski reached double digits in scoring with 10 points each. Pollart led with eight rebounds, and scored six points.Also scoring for the Panthers in the Rawlins contest were McKenzie Danforth with six, Allen with three, and Fagnant and Cooley with two each.On Saturday night, Wheatland was next in line and fell to the Lady Panthers 62-32.Coach Danforth said the girls played their best game of the tourney against a Wheatland team he believes may compete for a state tournament slot at season's end.Pollart chipped in with her second double-double of the weekend, scoring 20 and grabbing 12 rebounds.Similarly, Donarski put up another 15 points and nine boards. Coach Danforth noted that over the weekend, Donarski shot a solid 13 of 14 from the free-throw line.Other Lady Panthers contributing to the barrage were Lynn with eight points, Randi Asay with five, Allen, McKenzie Danforth and Thronburg with four each and Cooley with two.The Powell squad contributed to a tough weekend for Newcastle, Rawlins and Wheatland, who went a combined 0-9 in the weekend tourney.“We played some programs that are rebuilding a bit,” Coach Danforth said. “But that's not to take away from what the girls did.”• Up next: Last week, the Lady Panthers received a No. 2 ranking in Class 3A from the Wyopreps.com Coaches and Media Poll. This weekend, they'll be taking on No. 1 — the Lady Broncs of Jackson.But first, the Lady Panthers will head to Pinedale to take on the Lady Wranglers in a 5:45 p.m. Friday contest.Coach Danforth said the Pinedale squad is improved from last year, and is coming off two wins at the Cody tourney.“They'll be confident, and I think a real formidable opponent,” he said.The Panthers (3-0) will then head north to Jackson for a big Saturday match-up with the top-ranked Lady Broncs, a squad Coach Danforth calls the “strongest Jackson team I've seen in three years — and they're two-time state champions.”They feature six girls 5-10 or taller, Danforth said.“We've got a lot to work on,” he added. “We've got a big trip coming up.”

PHS notches 3-0 record at East-West Classic

The Powell High School girls basketball team apparently was ready for its first games of the year. Its opponents apparently weren't ready for the Lady Panthers.

In three games at Cody's East-West Classic, the Lady Panthers dismantled Newcastle, Rawlins, and Wheatland by margins of 26, 35, and 30 points, respectively.

“It's always nice to start with a win. Starting with three is a bonus,” said PHS head coach Luke Danforth.

Danforth was pleased with the team's balanced scoring, strong defense and rebounding.

“Everyone found a way to contribute,” he said.

All 12 of the team's varsity players scored points during the weekend tourney — including 11 of 12 chipping in against Newcastle Friday night.

In that 60-34 Lady Panther victory, they held Newcastle to 29 percent shooting and forced 26 turnovers.

However, Danforth also noted that his squad lost 23 possessions to turnovers, a number they'll look to improve upon.

The Lady Panthers put up buckets at a 40-percent rate.

“For this early in the season, pretty good shooting,” Danforth said.

Junior Savannah Donarski led the way with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Fellow junior Hannah Pollart led the squad in rebounds, pulling down 13 boards while putting up 10 points.

Also scoring for the Lady Panther against Newcastle were Kelsey Allen (7 points) Darcee Lynn (7) McKenzie Danforth (4), Leslie Thronburg (4), Shellie Williams (3), Katie Kipp (2), Lauren Fagnant (2) Olivia Rogers (2) and Kami Cooley (1).

Saturday morning, the Lady Panthers faced Rawlins and won 44-9. The Lady Panthers held the Lady Outlaws scoreless until about halfway through the third period. The PHS girls created 32 turnovers from the Rawlins' squad.

“The defensive pressure really stopped them up,” Coach Danforth said.

Lynn, a senior, and Donarski reached double digits in scoring with 10 points each. Pollart led with eight rebounds, and scored six points.

Also scoring for the Panthers in the Rawlins contest were McKenzie Danforth with six, Allen with three, and Fagnant and Cooley with two each.

On Saturday night, Wheatland was next in line and fell to the Lady Panthers 62-32.

Coach Danforth said the girls played their best game of the tourney against a Wheatland team he believes may compete for a state tournament slot at season's end.

Pollart chipped in with her second double-double of the weekend, scoring 20 and grabbing 12 rebounds.

Similarly, Donarski put up another 15 points and nine boards. Coach Danforth noted that over the weekend, Donarski shot a solid 13 of 14 from the free-throw line.

Other Lady Panthers contributing to the barrage were Lynn with eight points, Randi Asay with five, Allen, McKenzie Danforth and Thronburg with four each and Cooley with two.

The Powell squad contributed to a tough weekend for Newcastle, Rawlins and Wheatland, who went a combined 0-9 in the weekend tourney.

“We played some programs that are rebuilding a bit,” Coach Danforth said. “But that's not to take away from what the girls did.”

• Up next: Last week, the Lady Panthers received a No. 2 ranking in Class 3A from the Wyopreps.com Coaches and Media Poll. This weekend, they'll be taking on No. 1 — the Lady Broncs of Jackson.

But first, the Lady Panthers will head to Pinedale to take on the Lady Wranglers in a 5:45 p.m. Friday contest.

Coach Danforth said the Pinedale squad is improved from last year, and is coming off two wins at the Cody tourney.

“They'll be confident, and I think a real formidable opponent,” he said.

The Panthers (3-0) will then head north to Jackson for a big Saturday match-up with the top-ranked Lady Broncs, a squad Coach Danforth calls the “strongest Jackson team I've seen in three years — and they're two-time state champions.”

They feature six girls 5-10 or taller, Danforth said.

“We've got a lot to work on,” he added. “We've got a big trip coming up.”