A late season losing streak has the Powell High School girls’ basketball team looking to regroup heading into the regional tournament. The Panthers lost their final two regular season contests, 36-28 on Friday to Lovell and 52-28 in Lander on Saturday.

LOVELL 36, POWELL 28

A matchup to determine the No. 3 seed at the regional tournament greeted the Panthers (7-14 overall, 1-5 3A Northwest) Friday as they welcomed the Lovell Bulldogs (14-8, 2-4) to PHS on senior night.

Early on in the contest, Lovell pushed the envelope and sunk a 3-pointer over the Powell zone.

“When you play a zone you are putting pressure on the other team to knock down the outside shot,” Panther head coach Chelsea Buher said. 

Lovell continued its strong start to extend the lead to 10-0. Powell got on the board with 2:41 remaining, when junior Megan Jacobsen hit a layup.

Both teams struggled the rest of the way. Jacobsen was fouled to end the quarter and made one free throw to make it 10-3 heading into the second quarter.

An early offensive rebound and 3-pointer extended the Lovell lead out to double digits before Powell worked its way back into the contest.

Two straight steals led to layups from sophomore Waycee Harvey and freshman Catelynn Floy, with another jumper from Floy quickly cutting the lead to 13-9.

“Lovell came out and answered the bell for a little bit, but as we all settled in, things started to go our way a little bit,” Buher said.

Both teams battled the rest of the quarter, as the Bulldogs took a five-point lead into halftime.

In the second half, the Panthers again struggled to find the basket early, as Lovell extended the lead to 24-15 before Powell rallied.

Back-to-back 3-pointers by junior Maddie Campbell and Harvey made it 24-21 heading into the fourth.

After Lovell extended the lead, another Campbell trey, followed by a basket plus the foul sent freshman Saige Kidd to the line to tie the game with 3:28 remaining.

However, the free throw didn’t fall, and things started to go against the Panthers.

Late possessions resulted in three straight turnovers, which did not allow the Panthers to get the quality shot they were looking for.

“Turnovers are always tough; it is like missed free throws, they are momentum killers when you have them,” Buher said.

Lovell pulled away as they took over the No. 3 seed for the region tournament.

Harvey and Jacobsen both led the Panthers with seven points in the loss.

LANDER 42, POWELL 28

Looking to regain some momentum heading into the postseason, the Panthers traveled to take on quadrant leaders Lander (17-3 overall, 6-0 in 3A Northwest).

Jacobsen again got things started early for Powell as she scored the opening basket to help PHS to an early lead.

Lander responded with a 7-0 run and the Tiger press caused problems for the Panthers. Turnovers allowed Lander to race out to a 17-4 lead after the first quarter.

Powell was unable to cut into the lead in the second quarter, but held Lander to a lower scoring quarter to trail 27-10 at halftime.

The Panthers controlled the pace better to their advantage in the third quarter, outscoring Lander in the period to trail 37-23 going into the fourth quarter.

The Tigers, however, were able to regain their footing as they pushed their lead and walked away with a 52-28 win.

Campbell led the way as the only Panther in double figures with 10 points.

The loss extended the Panthers losing streak to seven games, as they will look to regroup heading into the regional tournament.

REGIONALS

Hosting regionals is a rare opportunity, and the Panthers will get that chance this week, as they take on southwest No. 1 seed Lyman (19-3, 5-1) at 7 p.m. on Thursday in Powell.

“While we have a tough road ahead of us, there is not anyone I do not feel like we can compete with if we have a solid showing on both sides of the floor,” Buher said. “They will lay it all out there on the line because that is what kind of players I have.”

If the Panthers win on Thursday they will play again on Friday at 7 p.m.; if they lose they will play on Friday at noon, facing the winner/loser of a Worland versus Mountain View game.

The Panthers must win two games before losing two in order to advance to the Class 3A state tournament in Casper next week.

LOVELL 36, POWELL 28

Points — Waycee Harvey 7, Megan Jacobsen 7, Maddie Campbell 6, Catelynn Floy 4, Saige Kidd 2, Kenzie Ratcliff 2

Rebounds — Floy 7, Harvey 5, Campbell 3, Kidd 3, Jacobsen 3, Ratcliff 2, Kaili Wisniewski 1

Assists — Floy 4, Campbell 2, Harvey 1, Ratcliff 1

Steals — Campbell 3, Harvey 2, Floy 2

LANDER 52, POWELL 28

Points — Campbell 10, Gretel Opps 6, Jacobsen 3, Kidd 3, Harvey 2, Ratcliff 2, Floy 2

Rebounds — Kidd 5, Campbell 3, Harvey 3, Opps 3, Wisniewski 2, Floy 2, Jacobsen 2, Blake Nissen 1

Assists — Harvey 2, Wisniewski 1, Campbell 1, Ratcliff 1, Abby Wambeke 1

Steals — Harvey 3, Campbell 1, Floy 1