Strong runs by Lovell and Cody dropped the Powell Panther boys’ basketball team in its final regular season games on the road, as the Panthers lost to Lovell 66-45 on Thursday and to Cody 52-37 on Friday.

LOVELL 66, POWELL 45

Starting the final road swing of the season the Panthers (13-9 overall, 3-7 3A West) made the quick trip to take on the Bulldogs (20-2 overall, 9-1 3A West) on Thursday.

After Powell made a technical free throw to start the game the Bulldogs came out and scored six straight points to lead 6-1 with 5:20 remaining to force a Panther timeout.

Following the timeout the Panthers responded and worked their way back into the game, pulling the score back to 17-14 at the end of the frame.

Lovell started opening up its lead midway through the second quarter, making it a 28-19 lead and extending it to double digits shortly after.

Heading into the locker room the Panthers trailed 35-20 as Lovell tried to pull away.

“We wanted to be better in our transition defense against Lovell and it was a lot better at times, even though we still gave up too many easy buckets in transition to them,” coach Mike Heny said.

The scoreline remained the same midway through the third quarter, but Dawson Griffin hit a 3-pointer to try and spark the Panthers as they trailed 40-26 with 3:35 remaining.

Powell got the gap down to 11, trailing 44-33 heading into the fourth quarter.

The hosts started pulling away midway through the final frame, making it a near 20-point gap at 56-37 midway through.

Lovell widened the gap over the final four minutes, ending with a 66-45 win.

“The kids are playing extremely hard and I was proud of them for how they fought back in the third quarter against Lovell and cut the lead to 11 going into the fourth,” Heny said. “Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to maintain that level of play for long enough stretches against the better teams that have beaten us.”

Alex Jordan and Griffin led the Panthers with 13 points each, as Jordan added nine rebounds to lead the Panthers in that category.

Nathan Preator led with five steals and tied for the team lead in assists alongside Evan Whitlock with four apiece.

CODY 52, POWELL 37

After the loss Thursday the Panthers traveled to Cody to take on the Broncs (17-4 overall, 9-1 3A West) on Friday.

The Panthers and Broncs battled back and forth for each basket early on, as the Panthers held a narrow 5-4 lead midway through the first quarter.

That didn’t change the rest of the way in the initial frame, as Powell took a 12-10 lead into the second after a Jordan jumper at the buzzer.

Powell continued to hold onto its lead midway through the second quarter after a Taeson Schultz 3-pointer made it 17-14.

The Broncs then went on a 10-0 run, taking the lead and making it a 24-17 game with just over two minutes left in the half.

Powell ended with a 6-3 stretch and only trailed 27-23 heading into the locker room.

In the third the Broncs started with a 8-0 run and pushed it to double digits before the midway point, as the Panthers tried to find a basket.

“Overall, we were better against both teams even though we gave up a couple of big runs that ended up costing us both games,” Heny said. “We’ll need to reduce those stretches this week at regionals in order to give us a chance to win regardless of the opponent.”

Nathan Preator stopped the scoring run with a jumper, but the Powell offense was unable to find a groove in the third quarter.

The lead reached as many as 15, and the Panthers trailed 42-28 heading into the fourth after mustering five points in the third.

In the fourth Cody led by as many as 16, and Powell fell 52-37 against the Broncs.

Jordan led with 12 points and seven rebounds, while Taeson Schultz led with five assists.

Preator and Jordan tied with three steals each.

REGIONAL TOURNAMENT

With the regular season wrapped up the Panthers will head down to Lander this weekend for the 3A West Regional Tournament starting on Thursday.

Powell matches up with a familiar foe in the first game, as the Panthers will be the No. 5 seed taking on the No. 4 seeded Worland Warriors (10-11 overall, 5-5 3A West), which swept the Panthers in the regular season 64-58 and 78-75 in overtime.

“The two losses against Worland played out completely differently and we know what the keys to the game will be,” Heny said. “We will work on sharpening up everything we do, especially on the defensive end. We need to execute at a high level, limit our turnovers, and force Worland to take difficult shots. If we can be solid in those areas, I like our chances.”

That game will be at 2:30 p.m. in the auxiliary gym at Lander High School.

If Powell wins, it will advance to the semifinal Friday night at 6:30 p.m. against the winner of No. 1 seed Lovell and No. 8 seed Lyman (7-15 overall, 1-9 3A West). If the Panthers lose they drop to the consolation bracket to take on the loser of that contest at noon on Friday.

The Panthers will need two victories to advance to state.

LOVELL 66, POWELL 45

Total rebounds then offensive rebounds in ()

Points — Alex Jordan 13, Dawson Griffin 13, Nathan Preator 8, Taeson Schultz 3, Jaxon Hancock 3, Kason Sherman 3, Evan Whitlock 2

Rebounds — Alex Jordan 9 (3), Nathan Preator 3 (1), Evan Whitlock 3, Jaxon Hancock 2 (1), Taeson Schultz 1, Landon Hyde 1, Dawson Griffin 1 (1), Eli Dallman 1

Assists — Nathan Preator 4, Evan Whitlock 4, Alex Jordan 2, Taeson Schultz 1, Landon Hyde 1, Jaxon Hancock 1

Steals — Nathan Preator 5, Alex Jordan 1

CODY 52, POWELL 37

Points — Alex Jordan 12, Evan Whitlock 7, Taeson Schultz 6, Nathan Preator 4, Jaxon Hancock 3, Dawson Griffin 3, Landon Hyde 2

Rebounds — Alex Jordan 7 (2), Taeson Schultz 6 (2), Evan Whitlock 4 (2), Dawson Griffin 4 (3), Nathan Preator 3 (1), Landon Hyde 1

Assists — Taeson Schultz 5, Evan Whitlock 2, Alex Jordan 2, Dawson Griffin 2, Jaxon Hancock 1

Steals — Nathan Preator 3, Alex Jordan 3, Taeson Schultz 2, Dawson Griffin 1

Blocks — Evan Whitlock 1, Alex Jordan 1