After nearly two weeks off from contests the Powell Panther girls’ basketball team cruised to a 68-41 win Friday in Worland behind a big first quarter.

POWELL 68, WORLAND 41

Getting back on the court for the first time in nearly two weeks the Panthers (12-4 overall, 3-1 3A West) matched up with the Warriors (1-16 overall, 0-7 3A West) and showed no signs of rust.

Catelynn Floy got things started early, scoring five of the first seven points as the Panthers led 7-0 1:30 in and forced a Worland timeout.

Just over a minute later the Panthers had already pushed the lead to double digits after a Coy Erickson 3-pointer made it 12-2.

Powell continued its strong scoring in the first quarter, and led 26-11 heading into the second.

“We attacked seams and then cut and drove in the right places. Just read the floor really well, and defensively we threw some different defenses and them, so we kept them on their toes to where they were never sure of what we might be in each time down,” coach Chelsea Kistler said.

The Panthers didn’t score in the second quarter until an Alexa Richardson layup with 4:26 left in the quarter.

The Warriors took advantage of the lower scoring to stay within 10 late, but a steal and shot at the buzzer by Floy extended the lead to 34-21 heading into the locker room.

Worland came out and cut the lead down to single digits, making it a 34-27 game in just over two minutes.

Powell re-established a double digit lead, going on an 11-0 run to make it a 45-27 contest.

“I felt like there were stints where we were scoring handfuls at a time, and then we kind of went dry for a bit,” Kistler said.

Ending the third quarter on a 16-2 run overall the Panthers took a commanding 50-29 lead into the final frame.

The Panthers continued to push and held a 61-34 lead midway through the quarter after an Emery Hernandez layup.

Powell cruised late and ended the contest with a 68-41 final to win a third straight contest.

Floy led the Panthers with 19 points and seven rebounds while also tying for the team lead in steals alongside Hernandez with five each.

“Catelynn, this is three games in a row she’s been exactly what we want her to be, very aggressive and finishing on the inside,” Kistler said.

Hernandez added 18 as the other Panther in double figures, while Richardson tied with Hernandez for the team lead with three assists.

The win in Worland was Kistler’s 100th varsity win as a coach, including wins in Illinois and 63 thus far in her six-season career as the Panther head coach.

“All of those wins obviously always go back to every single player that’s ever played for me. That doesn’t happen overnight and it takes every one of them to buy in and work hard and those in the past paving the way for the future,” Kistler said. “Just appreciative of the kids that I’ve worked with throughout the year and allowing me to be such a small part in their life.”

LONG WEEK AHEAD

Following the win Friday the Panthers kicked off a busy slate of games, starting with a make up game on Monday on the road against Lyman (11-7 overall, 0-6 3A West). That result was determined after the press deadline.

“We just have to play under control and kind of control the game from the start like we did with Worland,” Kistler said.

The Panthers continued that road trip today (Tuesday) on the road at 2 p.m. at Mountain View (13-5, 3-3 3A West).

Catch a full recap from those games in Thursday’s Powell Tribune.

POWELL 68, WORLAND 41

Total rebounds then offensive rebounds in ()

Points — Catelynn Floy 19, Emery Hernandez 18, Coy Erickson 9, Alexa Richardson 7, Kaedenze Carter 5, Hali Hancock 2, Ivy Agee 2, Ava Teten 2, Saige Kidd 2, Leah Graham 2

Rebounds — Catelynn Floy 7 (5), Emery Hernandez 5 (2), Coy Erickson 5, Saige Kidd 5 (2), Leah Graham 4, Alexa Richardson 1, Hali Hancock 1, Ivy Agee 1

Assists — Alexa Richardson 3, Emery Hernandez 3, Ava Teten 2, Leah Graham 2, Coy Erickson 1, Ivy Agee 1, Saige Kidd 1, Catelynn Floy 1

Steals — Emery Hernandez 5, Catelynn Floy 5, Ava Teten 2, Alexa Richardson 1, Saige Kidd 1, Leah Graham 1

Blocks — Saige Kidd 1