Returning from break the Powell Panther girls’ basketball team made the short trip to Cowley on Friday to take on the Rocky Mountain Grizzlies. A dominant defensive performance helped the Panthers cruise past the hosts with a 43-20 victory.

POWELL 43, ROCKY MOUNTAIN 20

Starting out the new year the 3A No. 4-ranked Panthers (3-2) were hoping to start strong against the 2A No. 3-ranked Grizzlies (8-2).

Early on a strong defensive presence along with a willingness to attack helped the Panthers hold an early lead.

“We are a really good defending team,” coach Chelsea Kistler said.

After leading 8-4 midway through the quarter, neither team found offense late in the frame and Powell took a 9-6 lead heading into the second quarter.

In the second, a Coy Erickson 3-pointer got things started — sparking a 10-0 run and helping the Panthers quickly build a double-digit lead.

Lockdown defense continued to help the Panthers distance themselves from the Grizzlies, and a strong game inside from Addy Thorington helped Powell build a 21-11 halftime lead.

“She (Thorington) shot well and Coy shot well from the outside,” Kistler said. “She (Erickson) had been shooting better in practice so I knew that was coming … We talked to her to have a shooter’s mindset more. She spends way too much time in the gym to ever second guess herself.”

More strong play out of the gate in the second half helped Powell extend the lead, with an Alexa Richardson 3-pointer helping Powell build a 30-13 advantage.

Another strong quarter had the Panthers riding high, holding Rocky to two points in the frame and taking a 35-13 lead into the fourth.

Despite playing the game without starting forward Catelynn Floy, the Panthers played a strong rotation throughout the game, with every suited player seeing at least 10 minutes on the court.

“Everybody got significant minutes in there,” Kistler said. “We are hoping to have Catelynn back this week to get back to full strength.”

Powell cruised in the fourth quarter, finishing with a 43-20 win to start 2024.

The Panther defense held the Grizzlies to 6-38 (15.7%) shooting from the field.

“I’m sure they have better shooting days,” Kistler said. “They weren’t 8-1 going into that game for nothing. I just have to give credit to my girls for making every shot tough. Everything was contested for the most part so we didn’t make it easy for them.”

Thorington led Powell with 16 points, eight rebounds and three blocks, while Erickson had 11 points and seven rebounds including four offensive.

“I have a different kid step up each game and that makes us a really hard team to scout,” Kistler said. “If you hone in on one kid then another kid is going to step up.”

Waycee Harvey led with five assists and Richardson paced Powell with six steals.

BIG HORN BASIN CLASSIC

After the short trip to Cowley the Panthers now turn their attention to the Big Horn Basin Classic, hosting the tournament alongside Cowley on Friday and Saturday.

Powell will be taking on 1A Riverside (3-4 overall, 1-0 1A Northwest) at 1:30 p.m. on Friday before taking on 2A Wind River (3-5) at 7:30 p.m.

“We want to take care of business and don’t overlook anybody,” Kistler said. 

If the Panthers win both games they will take on the winner of the group with 2A No. 2-ranked Wyoming Indian (10-2 overall, 1-0 2A Southwest), Thermopolis (2-6) and 2A Greybull (2-8) at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Powell will host the championship if the Panthers are in it at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. If Powell does not make the championship game and Rocky Mountain does the game will be in Cowley. If neither team makes it to the final then the championship game will be in Powell.

The Panthers have made the championship game two years in a row but have come up short both times against 3A Northwest foe Lovell in the title contest.

All rankings are courtesy of the WyoPreps Coaches and Media poll.

POWELL 43, ROCKY MOUNTAIN 20

Total rebounds then offensive rebounds in ()

Points — Addy Thorington 16, Coy Erickson 11, Waycee Harvey 6, Alexa Richardson 4, Ivy Agee 2, Emery Hernandez 2, Saige Kidd 2

Rebounds — Addy Thorington 8 (2), Coy Erickson 7 (4), Saige Kidd 7 (2), Waycee Harvey 4 (2), Kenzie Fields 3 (3), Ivy Agee 2 (1), Emery Hernandez 2 (1), Lauryn Bennett 2

Assists — Waycee Harvey 5, Alexa Richardson 2, Coy Erickson 2, Addy Thorington 1, Emery Hernandez 1, Saige Kidd 1, Lauryn Bennett 1

Steals — Alexa Richardson 6, Addy Thorington 3, Waycee Harvey 2, Coy Erickson 2, Kenzie Fields 1

Blocks — Addy Thorington 3, Alexa Richardson 1, Saige Kidd 1