Opening the season in Lander with three games, the Powell High School girls’ junior varsity basketball team went 3-0 defeating Newcastle, Pinedale and Lander on Friday and Saturday.

The Panthers rolled past Newcastle, using a strong halftime lead of 27-3 to earn a 48-17 win in their opener.

Aspen French led with 10 points, Autumn Kidd had nine, Sam Edgell had eight, Charlie Eastman and Veronica Kovach had six each, Addie Gillett had three while Reese Hancock, Breiyah Bonander and Stella Shoopman had two points each.

In the second game on Friday the Panthers faced a more difficult opponent, as Pinedale led 11-8 after the first, but the Panthers gained the halftime lead at 25-21.

Powell extended its lead to 40-32 in the third quarter and finished with the 47-40 win.

Kovach led with 12 points, Kidd had 11, French had eight, Edgell added six, Shoopman had four while Bonander, Eastman and Gillett added two each.

In the final game of the weekend on Saturday the Panthers took on Lander, where a close first half saw Powell leading 19-18.

The third quarter proved to be the difference as the Panthers outscored the Tigers 18-4.

Powell finished the game with a 51-28 win.

“Our defense in the second half was the best that it had been all weekend and on offense we really got into a nice rhythm with the 32 points,” coach Troy Hildebrand said.

Gillett led all scorers with 16, Kovach added nine, French had eight, Kidd added seven, Edgell had five, Bonander added four and Shoopman had two.

The Panthers played games in Douglas on Friday and Saturday before the winter break.