The Powell High School girls’ basketball team had a strong weekend but came up just short in the Big Horn Basin Classic championship game on Saturday in Thermopolis against Lovell. The Panthers defeated Riverside 55-22, Wyoming Indian 57-41, Thermopolis 57-19 before losing to Lovell 44-24.

POWELL 55, RIVERSIDE 22

The weekend kicked off for the Panthers (4-5) with pool play on Friday, beginning with 1A No. 5-ranked Riverside (6-5).

Strong defense early allowed Powell to build a lead over the Rebels, holding a 6-0 lead until Riverside scored its first point midway through the first quarter.

Powell kept control, carrying a 12-4 lead into the second quarter. Almost midway through the second, Addy Thorington sank a layup with 4:42 left in the half to make it a double digit game.

Shooting struggles claimed the Panthers from that point forward, as they didn’t score for the remainder of the quarter and allowed Riverside to tie the contest at 16 heading into the half.

After exchanging baskets early, the Panthers rediscovered their offensive groove while limiting the Rebels, extending the lead back out to double digits at 33-22 going into the fourth quarter.

“I basically let them know they were better than what they were playing and showing,” coach Chelsea Buher said. “We weren’t finishing our layups. We struggled in the rotation of the press so we just cleaned up some stuff and started pressing full-court man while playing good defense and started finishing those easy buckets.”

A quick blitz by the Panthers put the game out of reach, pushing the lead over 20 before the midway point of the final frame.

Powell finished off the game by only allowing six points in the second half, outscoring Riverside 39-6.

Maddie Campbell led the Panthers with 13 points and seven steals, alongside Thorington who was the other Panther in double figures with 12.

POWELL 57, WYOMING INDIAN 41

Following the second half surge, the Panthers took a couple of hours to relax and recover before taking on 2A No. 1-ranked Wyoming Indian (11-3).

The second game started out like the first, with a strong Panther defensive effort forcing the Lady Chiefs into turnovers early and often.

Unfortunately for Powell, the shots were not falling in the early frame and some of the turnovers were returned to the Lady Chiefs on passes from the Panthers.

Despite the poor shooting and turnovers in the opening period, Powell held a 7-6 lead after an Alexa Richardson 3-pointer late in the quarter.

“I’m continuing to hone in on them about doing the little things and finishing the easy baskets,” Buher said.

The scoring picked up in the second quarter, with the Panthers clinging onto a one-point lead, 14-13, midway through the second quarter.

From that point forward, Powell outscored Wyoming Indian 9-0 the rest of the way to take a 23-13 lead into the locker room.

“We didn’t really change much, just made sure their mind was in the right place,” Buher said. “We are getting them the confidence to realize that what they do they do well, and believe they are going to make the easy baskets and make the right choices.”

Powell carried that momentum out of the locker room, pushing the lead further out and not allowing the Lady Chiefs to make a run in the second half.

The Panthers lead by 21 heading into the fourth quarter.

Wyoming Indian made a late push after Powell’s bench entered the game, tightening the contest to a 57-41 victory for the Panthers.

Thorington led the way for Powell with 21 points and eight rebounds, alongside Campbell who finished with 11 points. Waycee Harvey led the Panthers with six assists, Catelynn Floy led the Panthers with four steals and Megan Jacobsen was tied for the team-high rebounds with eight.

POWELL 57, THERMOPOLIS 19

After winning both games on Friday, the Panthers moved into the semifinals of the classic, matching up with host Thermopolis (2-9) on Saturday.

An early press break by Powell and a finish by Saige Kidd opened the floodgates for the Panthers, and the route was on early.

“We always talk about the snowball effect,” Buher said. “That can either be a positive or negative one. When they see that first person make that layup or short shot then the next person thinks they can do it then it snowballs from there.”

Early confidence allowed the Panthers to generate turnovers and not allow any shooting opportunities for the Bobcats, leaping out to a 13-0 lead midway through the quarter.

Powell carried that momentum and put the game to rest early, maintaining a 31-0 lead going into the locker room.

In the second half Powell cruised, finishing with a 57-19 victory to advance to the championship game Saturday evening in Thermopolis.

“We shot 70% from the free throw line and we struggled up until then. That is just proof that it is a mental game,” Buher said.

Thorington finished with 13, while Campbell and Floy both finished with 12. Floy tied for the team lead in rebounds alongside Jacobsen with eight.

LOVELL 44, POWELL 24

Finishing out the weekend the Panthers came up against another 3A Northwest foe, matching up with Lovell (8-4) in the championship game for the second year in a row.

Both teams used a strong press to force turnovers early, with Powell holding the early 6-3 lead.

The Bulldogs finished the quarter with a 5-0 run to take an 8-6 lead into the second quarter, and used hot shooting from 3-point range to quickly push the lead out in the second and take a 22-8 lead into halftime.

Powell was unable to find an answer for the hot shooting, as Lovell cruised in the second half to a second consecutive BHB Classic title behind a 6-of-10 performance from 3-point range and 46% from the field for the game.

“We didn’t make those short shots early again,” Buher said. “I felt like we were a little off mentally that game. They got us out of our game for sure. We know they are a physical team and they are going to get up and guard and pressure you … We didn’t show up and Lovell did.”

Harvey and Thorington tied for the team high in points with seven followed closely by Floy with six.

CONFERENCE OPENERS

Powell heads out on the road to kick off the 3A Northwest conference slate this weekend, making the trip back to Thermopolis on Friday at 5:30 p.m.

“We are better than that (Lovell) showing and the girls know that,” Buher said. “I don’t want them to overlook anybody. Anybody can beat anybody on a given night. We have to come out focused like the first time we played them.”

The Panthers then follow that up with a trip to Worland at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, hoping to open the conference schedule 2-0 against the Warriors (2-8).

POWELL 55, RIVERSIDE 22

Offensive rebounds in ()

Points — Maddie Campbell 13, Addy Thorington 12, Saige Kidd 7, Catelynn Floy 6, Waycee Harvey 4, Coy Erickson 3, Lauryn Bennett 3, Alexa Richardson 2, Kami Jensen 2, Megan Jacobsen 2, Abby Wambeke 1

Rebounds — Addy Thorington 6 (3), Catelynn Floy 6 (3), Alexa Richardson 4 (3), Megan Jacobsen 4 (3), Saige Kidd 3, Lauryn Bennett 3 (3), Waycee Harvey 2 (2), Abby Wambeke 2, Maddie Campbell 2 (1), Coy Erickson 1 (1), Kenzie Fields 1 (1)

Assists — Megan Jacobsen 4, Maddie Campbell 3, Saige Kidd 3, Alexa Richardson 2, Kami Jensen 2

Steals — Maddie Campbell 7, Waycee Harvey 4, Catelynn Floy 3, Alexa Richardson 2, Coy Erickson 2, Kami Jensen 2, Addy Thorington 1, Kenzie Fields 1, Lauryn Bennett 1, Megan Jacobsen 1

Blocks — Coy Erickson 1

POWELL 57, WYOMING INDIAN 41

Points — Addy Thorington 21, Maddie Campbell 11, Catelynn Floy 7, Abby Wambeke 5, Megan Jacobsen 4, Alexa Richardson 3, Coy Erickson 2, Saige Kidd 2, Kami Jensen 2

Rebounds — Addy Thorington 8 (4), Megan Jacobsen 8 (3), Catelynn Floy 5 (4), Waycee Harvey 3 (1), Alexa Richardson 2, Coy Erickson 2 (1), Saige Kidd 2, Kami Jensen 2 (1), Maddie Campbell 1, Lauryn Bennett 1 (1)

Assists — Waycee Harvey 6, Megan Jacobsen 3, Alexa Richardson 2, Kami Jensen 2, Saige Kidd 1, Catelynn Floy 1

Steals — Catelynn Floy 4, Waycee Harvey 2, Addy Thorington 2, Maddie Campbell 2, Kami Jensen 2, Alexa Richardson 1, Coy Erickson 1

Blocks — Addy Thorington 3, Alexa Richardson 1

POWELL 57, THERMOPOLIS 19

Points — Addy Thorington 13, Maddie Campbell 12, Catelynn Floy 12, Saige Kidd 7, Megan Jacobsen 7, Kami Jensen 3, Waycee Harvey 2, Coy Erickson 1

Rebounds — Catelynn Floy 8 (4), Megan Jacobsen 8 (2), Maddie Campbell 6 (3), Waycee Harvey 4 (2), Coy Erickson 4 (1), Addy Thorington 4 (2), Alexa Richardson 2, Kami Jensen 2 (1), Saige Kidd 1, Lauryn Bennett 1

Assists — Alexa Richardson 3, Maddie Campbell 3, Waycee Harvey 2, Addy Thorington 2, Megan Jacobsen 2, Coy Erickson 1, Saige Kidd 1

Steals — Alexa Richardson 2, Coy Erickson 2, Addy Thorington 2, Saige Kidd 2, Maddie Campbell 1, Kami Jensen 1, Catelynn Floy 1, Megan Jacobsen 1

Blocks — Addy Thorington 1, Maddie Campbell 1, Kami Jensen 1, Catelynn Floy 1

LOVELL 44, POWELL 24

Points — Waycee Harvey 7, Addy Thorington 7, Catelynn Floy 6, Coy Erickson 2, Saige Kidd 2

Rebounds — Waycee Harvey 4 (2), Saige Kidd 3, Catelynn Floy 3 (2), Coy Erickson 2, Maddie Campbell 2, Addy Thorington 1, Kami Jensen 1 (1)

Assists — Maddie Campbell 4, Megan Jacobsen 2, Waycee Harvey 1, Catelynn Floy 1

Steals — Catelynn Floy 3, Waycee Harvey 2, Maddie Campbell 2, Abby Wambeke 1, Megan Jacobsen 1

Blocks — Addy Thorington 2, Saige Kidd 1