Opening the season on the road the Powell Panther girls’ basketball team suffered an opening night loss to the host Lander Tigers 45-42 in the Strannigan Classic. Powell rebounded with successive victories over Jackson 55-7 and 35-28 over Pinedale to start the season 2-1.

LANDER 45, POWELL 42

A true road test opened the season for the Panthers (2-1) on Thursday, taking on host Lander (2-1).

Out of the gate the Panthers were unable to find their touch, trailing 6-1 three minutes into the game with the only point coming from a Waycee Harvey free throw.

“We had quite a bit of jitters and nerves going into that game,” coach Chelsea Kistler said. 

A difficult first quarter had the Panthers creating numerous chances, but converting few and trailing 11-4 heading into the second.

Powell came out stronger to start the second quarter, quickly cutting into the lead and making the scoreline 12-11 over the first three minutes.

Despite the strong start, Powell was unable to claim the lead and continued to trail 20-18 at the break.

Lander came out firing in the third, scoring eight straight points in just over a minute and building a double-digit lead to force a Powell timeout.

Powell started chipping away at the lead through paint points, cutting the lead down to 33-28 heading into the final frame.

The Panthers got it back to one possession early in the fourth on a Catelynn Floy basket, but were continually held at bay and unable to take the lead.

Lander was dominant from 3-point range, continually using the long ball to push ahead of Powell and re-establish a two possession lead.

“We did not play well that game,” Kistler said. “We didn’t cover shooters outside, we were losing people (defensively).”

The Panthers cut it back down to a single possession, but missed opportunities continued to plague the visitors.

Harvey continued to keep Powell in the game as Lander continued pulling away.

Neither team could find a basket, before an and-one by Lander pushed the score back to two possessions at 42-37 with just under three minutes left.

Lander continued to lead 44-40 with a minute left, but the Panthers were able to force a turnover to give themselves a chance late.

Powell couldn’t find a basket, and a foul gave Lander a chance to seal the game at the line.

Lander made one of two, but Saige Kidd was fouled on the other end and made both to make it 45-42 with 22 seconds left.

After a timeout, Powell forced the inbounds to be thrown past an outstretched Lander hand — giving the Panthers one chance to tie.

The Panthers worked it around but couldn’t break down the Tigers and took a timeout for one final shot with six seconds left.

Powell was again unable to find a shot, and came up short 45-42 in the season opener.

Harvey led with a game high 18 points, along with three steals.

“She had a great game, she was really aggressive attacking seams and finished,” Kistler said. “It’s something we knew she had in her but she’s got to realize that too and that game she did.”

Addy Thorington led with 10 rebounds — half of the 32 rebounds for the Panthers were offensive.

Lander made seven 3-pointers on 53% shooting beyond the arc compared to two made for Powell on 25% shooting.

POWELL 55, JACKSON 7

The Panthers turned around Friday to take on 4A Jackson (0-4) at Central Wyoming College.

Powell came out with a purpose, rebounding from Thursday and coming out strong.

The Panthers rode to the tune of a dominant first half, not allowing a single point from Jackson and holding a 34-0 lead at the break.

Powell continued to push behind a strong effort from Alexa Richardson off the bench from beyond the arc, pulling back from scoring on fast breaks and  continuing to work on offensive sets and mistakes early in the season.

“We would still do our transition but then pull it out and run our plays while putting rules on them for what we are looking for,” Kistler said. “We are trying to get better at what we need to get better at.”

Kistler got much needed experience for her bench early in the year, with the Panthers cruising to a 55-7 victory.

Powell was one of four losses for the Broncs on opening weekend, extending their losing streak to 41 games.

“We’ve all been there … If you are in coaching long enough you’ve been in that situation. It wasn’t that long ago I was in that situation,” Kistler said. “It’s hard for the players and the coaches, so hats off to them to continue to push hard and work to be better. Those girls really gave some good defensive pressure, they are trying to do the right things.”

Richardson led with 17 points and eight rebounds, just ahead of Thorington 14 while Kidd had 10 points and four steals. 

POWELL 35, PINEDALE 28

Trying to end the weekend on a positive note, the Panthers got a look at another 3A Southwest opponent, taking on Pinedale (2-1).

Powell came out strong, building a 9-4 lead against the Wranglers over the first couple of minutes.

Neither team was able to find significant scoring the remainder of the first quarter, but Powell continued to lead 11-6 heading into the second.

The Panthers ran into trouble early in the second when Thorington got her second foul, joining Harvey who had picked up two in the first quarter.

Powell turned to its bench, continuing to execute a game plan defensively to slow down Pinedale’s top scorer Elyn Bowers.

“I felt like that was a really good defensive effort from the team that game,” Kistler said. “Our defensive game plan was executed really well.”

Richardson again started strong for the Panthers, knocking down jump shots to add another dimension to Powell’s attack.

In the second, Powell outscored Pinedale 3-2 over the first 6:30, before a late run including a Kidd layup and a Richardson 3-pointer made it 19-8 at the half.

“She (Richardson) is stepping in and shooting with confidence and that goes a long ways,” Kistler said.

The Panthers did not allow the Wranglers to rally early, and a Floy and-one established a 12-point lead midway through the third quarter.

It opened up to as many as 14 at 24-10, but a late push by the Wranglers made it 24-15 heading into the fourth quarter.

Pinedale cut it to seven early in the fourth, but a Richardson 3-pointer re-established a double-digit lead and Powell looked to pull away.

Powell continued to hold its lead, finishing off with a 35-28 victory.

The Panther defense held Bowers at bay, holding her to 11 points after she had 18 points against Rawlins and 29 against Cheyenne East.

“We had a few different kids on Bowers at some point,” Kistler said. “All three of those girls did a tremendous job on her.”

Richardson led again in scoring with 13 along with three assists, while Thorington and Kidd tied for the team lead with eight rebounds each.

RIVALRY GAME FRIDAY

After the weekend in Fremont County, the Panthers will return to Powell to open the home campaign on Friday evening.

That will come against the rival Cody Fillies (2-1), with the final game before winter break tipping off at 5:30 p.m.

“We have to handle their defensive pressure,” Kistler said. “The girls are excited for this game. Cody is good again this year.”

Cody entered the season as the No. 1-ranked team in the WyoPreps Coaches and Media Poll for 4A, while Powell is ranked No. 3 in 3A.

LANDER 45, POWELL 42

Total rebounds then offensive rebounds in ()

Points — Waycee Harvey 18, Addy Thorington 8, Saige Kidd 6, Catelynn Floy 5, Coy Erickson 3, Alexa Richardson 2

Rebounds — Addy Thorington 10 (4), Coy Erickson 7 (1), Saige Kidd 5 (2), Catelynn Floy 5 (5), Waycee Harvey 4 (3), Alexa Richardson 1 (1)

Assists — Alexa Richardson 2, Waycee Harvey 2, Catelynn Floy 2, Coy Erickson 1, Addy Thorington 1

Steals — Waycee Harvey 3, Addy Thorington 3, Catelynn Floy 2, Alexa Richardson 1, Coy Erickson 1

Blocks — Waycee Harvey 1, Addy Thorington 1

POWELL 55, JACKSON 7

Points — Alexa Richardson 17, Addy Thorington 14, Saige Kidd 10, Ivy Agee 5, Coy Erickson 4, Waycee Harvey 3, Lauryn Bennett 1, Catelynn Floy 1

Rebounds — Alexa Richardson 8 (3), Waycee Harvey 6 (3), Addy Thorington 6 (4), Saige Kidd 4 (4), Coy Erickson 3 (1), Kenzie Fields 3 (1), Catelynn Floy 3 (1), Ivy Agee 1, Lauryn Bennett 1

Assists — Waycee Harvey 3, Coy Erickson 2, Addy Thorington 2, Kenzie Fields 2, Lauryn Bennett 2, Alexa Richardson 1, Saige Kidd 1, Catelynn Floy 1

Steals — Saige Kidd 4, Alexa Richardson 3, Waycee Harvey 3, Coy Erickson 3, Kenzie Fields 2, Lauryn Bennett 2, Addy Thorington 1, Catelynn Floy 1

Blocks — Ivy Agee 1

POWELL 35, PINEDALE 28

Points — Alexa Richardson 13, Waycee Harvey 8, Catelynn Floy 8, Addy Thorington 2, Saige Kidd 2, Lauryn Bennett 2

Rebounds — Addy Thorington 8 (6), Saige Kidd 8 (4), Catelynn Floy 5 (3), Waycee Harvey 4 (1), Alexa Richardson 3, Kenzie Fields 3 (1), Coy Erickson 2 (2), Lauryn Bennett 1 (1)

Assists — Alexa Richardson 3, Waycee Harvey 3, Coy Erickson 3, Catelynn Floy 2, Addy Thorington 1

Steals — Lauryn Bennett 2, Alexa Richardson 1, Waycee Harvey 1, Coy Erickson 1, Saige Kidd 1

Blocks — Waycee Harvey 3, Addy Thorington 2, Saige Kidd 2