Competing in two important road contests the Powell High School girls’ basketball team came up short, as the Panthers fell to Lander 53-35 on Friday and lost a late lead against Pinedale to fall 50-47 on Saturday.

LANDER 53, POWELL 35

Starting their difficult road trip in Lander the Panthers (14-6 overall, 5-3 3A West) took on the Tigers (18-3 overall, 8-1 3A West) for the second time this season.

Powell fell behind quickly 9-3 in the opening frame, but responded behind strong 3-point shooting to end the first quarter with a 15-11 lead heading into the second quarter.

“I thought we rebounded a lot better and we handled their press a lot better,” coach Chelsea Kistler said.

After the Panthers led 18-16, the Tigers responded with a 9-0 run before a late 3-pointer by Powell cut the halftime advantage of Lander down to 25-21.

In the third quarter the Tigers got up by as many as nine, but the Panthers remained within striking distance trailing 38-32 heading into the fourth quarter.

Lander started the fourth quarter with an 8-0 run to push it to double-digits, as the Panthers were unable to find their footing throughout the final frame.

“Shots weren’t falling, we only scored three points in the fourth quarter,” Kistler said. “We were just playing faster than I would like. We play fast, but I felt like we were playing more into Lander’s hand, and being able to sustain that all game long is difficult. I felt like in the fourth quarter we started losing our legs.”

The Tigers continued pulling away and took the 53-35 win.

Coy Erickson led with 17 points and eight rebounds, while Emery Hernandez led with four assists, three steals and two blocks.

PINEDALE 50, POWELL 47

In Pinedale the Panthers matched up with the Wranglers (16-4 overall, 6-3 3A West) in a battle for the No. 3 seed.

Early on both teams struggled to score, as Powell held the slight advantage midway through 7-4 after an Erickson 3-pointer.

Powell found its scoring first, as the Panthers pushed their advantage out to 18-10 to end the first quarter.

The Panthers had a double-digit lead early in the second, but the Wranglers battled back to tighten the scoreline heading into halftime as the Panthers led 27-21.

Pinedale started the third quarter quickly, going on a 11-0 run and claiming the lead.

Powell fought back and responded with a 9-0 stretch of its own the rest of the quarter as the Panthers led 36-31 after the third.

“They had a big third quarter. We called a timeout and were able to adjust and regroup,” Kistler said. “I was proud of the girls for coming back.”

Powell continued to hold its lead, but Pinedale cut it down to a single possession at 43-40 midway through the fourth quarter.

The Panthers extended their lead to 46-40, before Pinedale had the lead down to 46-45 with 20 seconds left.

Hernandez went 1-2 at the line to make it 47-45.

Pinedale found an opportunity after a timeout, and got an and-one with the free throw giving the Wranglers the lead with 6.5 seconds left.

Powell was unable to get an opportunity before the Wranglers stole the ball back, and a pair of free throws made it 50-47 Pinedale.

The Panthers couldn’t find a tying three on a hoist by Erickson at the buzzer as Pinedale escaped with the 50-47 win.

“We just didn’t execute in the last 2:30 minutes of the game,” Kistler said. “Learning moments for sure. I told the girls it’s only worth it in that game situation if we learn from it for the future … We’ll learn, that’s what this year has been full of is growth and learning.”

Erickson led with 16 points and eight rebounds, just ahead of Hernandez who had 14 points, five steals and a block.

Kindyle Floy was the other Panther in double figures with 10.

Hali Hancock had the other block for the Panthers.

HOME CONTESTS

The Panthers return home for the final time this season, welcoming in the final two 3A Northwest opponents.

Powell starts with Lovell (14-7 overall, 4-5 3A West) at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, which will likely be a preview of the opening round at regionals when the two teams head back to Lovell next week as the Panthers sit fourth and the Bulldogs are fifth.

“The Lovell game is a big game for confidence going into regionals, because there’s a pretty big chance that we’re going to draw Lovell no matter win or lose,” Kistler said.

The Panthers then take on Cody (19-0, 8-0 3A West) at 5:30 p.m. on Friday.

“I felt like we handled their press fine (in Cody) and we kind of got going too fast, like our Lander game, too fast in the half court and had a lot of turnovers,” Kistler said. “I would like for that to be a game paced at what we want to play at, and execute some things offensively and guard their personnel.”

LANDER 53, POWELL 35

Total rebounds then offensive rebounds in ()

Points — Coy Erickson 17, Emery Hernandez 8, Kindyle Floy 8, Hali Hancock 2

Rebounds — Coy Erickson 8 (4), Leah Graham 7 (4), Emery Hernandez 5 (2), Hali Hancock 4 (2), Shelby Zickefoose 2, Kindyle Floy 1

Assists — Emery Hernandez 4, Coy Erickson 2, Kindyle Floy 2, Hali Hancock 1, Leah Graham 1

Steals — Emery Hernandez 3, Hali Hancock 1, Coy Erickson 1, Leah Graham 1, Kindyle Floy 1

Blocks — Emery Hernandez 2

PINEDALE 50, POWELL 47

Points — Coy Erickson 16, Emery Hernandez 14, Kindyle Floy 10, Hali Hancock 5, Leah Graham 2

Rebounds — Coy Erickson 8 (5), Leah Graham 5 (3), Hali Hancock 2, Shelby Zickefoose 2

Assists — Coy Erickson 3, Leah Graham 3, Emery Hernandez 2, Kindyle Floy 1

Steals — Emery Hernandez 5, Coy Erickson 3, Leah Graham 1, Kindyle Floy 1

Blocks — Emery Hernandez 1, Hali Hancock 1

3A WEST STANDINGS

Overall record followed by conference record

1. Cody 19-0, 8-0

2. Lander 18-3, 8-1

3. Pinedale 16-4, 6-3

4. Powell 14-6, 5-3

5. Lovell 14-7, 4-5

6. Worland 8-13, 2-7

7. Lyman 9-8, 1-7

8. Mountain View 4-15, 0-8