Both teams saw a low scoring game early between the Powell Panther girls’ basketball team and the Rocky Mountain Grizz, before the Panthers pulled away in the second half for a 44-32 victory in their home opener.

POWELL 44, ROCKY MOUNTAIN 32

Playing their first home game of the season the Panthers (4-3) welcomed the Grizz (6-4) on Thursday night.

Cold shooting plagued both teams early, as the first point of the game didn’t come until 5:31 left on an Emery Hernandez free throw to make it 1-0.

Powell started finding some easier looks through layups and steals to extend the early score out to 7-2 before a timeout by the visitors with 1:47 remaining.

“Typical game after break. Haven’t played a game in about three weeks and both teams were struggling,” coach Chelsea Kistler said. “Then on top of that, being a home game, our first of the year, I think there was a lot of adrenaline there that typically would kind of subside halfway through maybe the first quarter, but it felt like we kept that energy throughout the whole game. I think the girls were just really excited to play, and I think all the adrenaline all at once was just a little too much that we couldn’t contain.”

The Panthers kept pressing and led 10-2 after the first behind six points by Hernandez.

In the second quarter the offense stalled for both teams once again, but the Panthers managed to make it a double-digit contest by the midway point leading 14-4.

That offensive struggle continued and forced a timeout from Kistler, allowing Powell to find its footing once again to end the half on a high note.

“I felt like our defense is what made our offense for the most part that game,” she said. “We did some really good things, but what we have to be better at is slowing it down and controlling the pace even after we get a steal.”

Powell pushed forward to make it a 20-9 game at the half behind 14 from Hernandez.

Slow offensive production through the midway point of the third led to a 24-12 scoreline, before the Panthers found their offense late in the third and made it a 34-20 scoreline heading into the fourth quarter.

After a timeout where Rocky had cut the lead down to 36-24 with 4:47 remaining in the game, the Panthers quickly pushed the lead out to 20 points behind Hernandez and Ivy Agee to make it a 44-24 game before the starters were pulled late.

Hernandez led with a career high 21 points, along with three assists and three steals.

“That’s a great offensive night for her, she’s playing with confidence and that’s what she needs to continue to do,” Kistler said.

Agee finished with 11 points and had a game high eight steals.

Coy Erickson and Saige Kidd tied for the team lead with eight rebounds each with Erickson adding three assists and Kidd two blocks.

“Saige, Coy and Leah [Graham] did a great job on the rebounds. Even Alexa [Richardson] and Emery both had five. I mean those are great rebounding stats especially from the guards getting in there,” Kistler said.

BIG HORN BASIN CLASSIC

After the lone game at home the Panthers head out on the road this weekend, making the trip to Thermopolis and Worland to take part in the Big Horn Basin Classic.

Powell will be in Thermopolis for pool play on Friday, starting with a game against 2A Wyoming Indian (10-1 overall, 1-0 2A Southwest) at noon before taking on 1A Riverside (7-2, 1-0 1A Northwest) at 6 p.m.

“Being lower class doesn’t mean anything in my book. We can’t ever overlook anybody,” Kistler said. “I hope that we can string a few wins together and then be heading to Worland for the championship, and just be clicking on all cylinders as we get ready to head into conference.”

If Powell is the top seed in its pool the girls will play at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday in Thermopolis, if the Panthers are the three seed they will play at 11 a.m. and if Powell is the two seed it will play at 2 p.m.

Powell will play either the Cody JV, 2A Thermopolis (3-5) or 2A Wind River (4-5 overall, 0-1 2A Southwest).

Powell can advance to the championship with a semifinal win which will be played in Worland at 4 p.m.

POWELL 44, ROCKY MOUNTAIN 32

Total rebounds then offensive rebounds in ()

Points — Emery Hernandez 21, Ivy Agee 11, Saige Kidd 6, Coy Erickson 4, Leah Graham 2

Rebounds — Coy Erickson 8 (2), Saige Kidd 8 (3), Leah Graham 6 (4), Alexa Richardson 5 (4), Emery Hernandez 5 (2), Ava Teten 3 (1), Shelby Zickefoose 1

Assists — Emery Hernandez 3, Coy Erickson 3, Alexa Richardson 2, Ivy Agee 2, Ava Teten 1, Shelby Zickefoose 1, Leah Graham 1

Steals — Ivy Agee 8, Coy Erickson 4, Emery Hernandez 3, Leah Graham 3, Saige Kidd 2, Alexa Richardson 1

Blocks — Saige Kidd 2, Emery Hernandez 1, Coy Erickson 1