Starting the season out on the road, the Powell High School girls’ basketball team kicked off the campaign with an emphatic 46-27 win over Lander. The Panthers then dropped two straight contests to Laramie 41-26 and Pinedale 59-39 as the turnovers piled up to end the weekend at the Strannigan Tournament in Lander.

POWELL 46, LANDER 27

Kicking off the weekend the Panthers (1-2) took on the home team Lander (1-2) in the opening game of the season, looking to create momentum for a team hoping to return to the state tournament.

Powell came out strong, jumping out to an 8-0 lead early via a strong full-court press.

“I was really proud of the way the girls came out for our first game of the season,” coach Chelsea Buher said. “They were ready to play and go against someone other than their own teammates. It was nice to see them execute our press and for the period of time that they did.”

Saige Kidd led the press at the top for the Panthers, helping force Lander into uncomfortable positions throughout the game.

Powell kept that momentum, and a late 3-pointer by Alexa Richardson gave Powell a 13-2 lead going into the second quarter.

The lead continued to extend up to as many as 14, with Lander tightening the game to single digits at different points in the second quarter.

Late free throws by Megan Jacobsen pushed the lead back out to 23-12 at halftime.

The Panthers pressure did not let up in the third quarter, but things did not finish perfectly for Powell.

Starting point guard and All-Conference selection Maddie Campbell injured her ankle when an opponent landed on it at the buzzer to end the third quarter on a shooting attempt, which kept her out the rest of the weekend.

Powell cruised in the fourth quarter despite the injury and finished with a 46-27 win.

Kidd led the way with 10 points and nine rebounds, while Campbell finished with nine points, four assists and four steals. Jacobsen finished with nine points and Catelynn Floy finished with eight points and eight rebounds.

LARAMIE 41, POWELL 26

Despite the victory, the Panthers looked to regroup heading into Friday after losing their starting point guard to take on 4A Laramie (4-0).

“Maddie getting hurt in the first game of the season wasn’t obviously something we were expecting and it was a difficult role to fill, because you’re having to throw someone in there in a spot that has to take on such a key piece of the game because they have to run the show,” Buher said. “We looked at it as sort of a ‘blessing in disguise’ if you will, for the only fact that this will do nothing but strengthen our team in the long run.”

Filling in the primary ball-handling roles were Richardson and Waycee Harvey, coming up against a strong press from Laramie.

The Panthers trailed early in the game, but closed the gap heading into halftime only down five points.

Powell continued to remain close, trailing by single digits with just minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

Late turnovers sunk the Panthers, who finished with 30 giveaways in the game as a team as Laramie pulled away for a 41-26 victory.

“Playing against a 4A team and girls switching around their roles, again, I felt we put a mark in the win column for growth,” Buher said. “We talked about the turnovers, especially in the last three to five minutes or so of the game and how important it is to slow the ball down, somebody step up and lead our team to get them calmed down in the right positions to run the plays and execute.”

Kidd led the Panthers with eight points and eight rebounds.

PINEDALE 59, POWELL 39

The first loss of the season meant the Panthers went into Saturday trying to get back in the win column squaring off against another 3A West opponent in Pinedale (3-0).

Pinedale, much like Laramie, put the Panthers under pressure immediately with a three-quarter court press.

Starting out the game Powell also matched the intensity of the Wranglers, with the game remaining within seven points after the first quarter.

Pinedale continued to maintain its lead and took a 35-26 lead going into the locker room.

Powell continued to battle, but was unable to close the gap within two possessions in the third quarter.

A late Pinedale push in the quarter pushed the lead out to 16 heading into the fourth.

The Wranglers maintained the lead and extended it to 20, finishing with a 59-39 win.

“We had a lot of mistakes that we can control and we will work on between now and the next time we see them,” Buher said. “That was more of a nine to 12 point game in my opinion, and after losing to them by about 27 last year, I’ll take it. Especially knowing we weren’t at full strength.”

Kidd led the way with 12 points and nine rebounds for the Panthers, who shot over 50% as a team, but turned the ball over 30 times for the second consecutive game.

RIVALRY MATCHUP

After a learning experience the first weekend, the Panthers now head into likely their most difficult matchup this season at 4A No. 1-ranked Cody (3-0) on Friday at 5:30 p.m.

Buher expects Campbell to return to the lineup after twisting her ankle, while Addy Thorington will rejoin the team after missing the first weekend of action.

“We didn’t really have a post sub this weekend, so Saige, Catelynn and Megan had to really step up and play a lot of minutes,” Buher said. “Adding Addy obviously gives us more depth on the inside, not only with another post player, but her length and athletic ability are outstanding.”

Buher said she knows the matchup with Cody will be difficult, and the Panthers are primarily focused on improving their craft early in the season rather than focusing specifically on a matchup with Cody.

POWELL 46, LANDER 27

Offensive rebounds in ()

Points — Saige Kidd 10, Maddie Campbell 9, Megan Jacobsen 9, Catelynn Floy 8, Alexa Richardson 6, Waycee Harvey 4

Rebounds — Saige Kidd 9 (4), Catelynn Floy 8 (2), Kami Jensen 4 (2), Waycee Harvey 3 (1), Megan Jacobsen 3 (2), Alexa Richardson 2, Maddie Campbell 2 (1), Lauryn Bennett 1

Assists — Maddie Campbell 4, Saige Kidd 3, Catelynn Floy 3, Waycee Harvey 2, Coy Erickson 1

Steals — Maddie Campbell 4, Kami Jensen 3, Catelynn Floy 3, Saige Kidd 1, Megan Jacobsen 1

Blocks — Kami Jensen 1

LARAMIE 41, POWELL 26

Points — Saige Kidd 8, Waycee Harvey 5, Megan Jacobsen 5, Alexa Richardson 4, Catelynn Floy 4

Rebounds — Saige Kidd 8 (3), Waycee Harvey 6 (1), Catelynn Floy 6 (1), Megan Jacobsen 3 (1), Alexa Richardson 2 (1), Coy Erickson 1

Assists — Alexa Richardson 2, Megan Jacobsen 2, Waycee Harvey 1, Kami Jensen 1

Steals — Kami Jensen 3, Catelynn Floy 3, Coy Erickson 1

Blocks — Megan Jacobsen 1

PINEDALE 59, POWELL 39

Points — Saige Kidd 12, Catelynn Floy 10, Kami Jensen 6, Alexa Richardson 5, Waycee Harvey 2, Coy Erickson 2, Megan Jacobsen 2

Rebounds — Saige Kidd 9 (4), Waycee Harvey 6 (1), Catelynn Floy 4 (1), Megan Jacobsen 3 (1), Coy Erickson 2, Kami Jensen 1

Assists — Kami Jensen 3, Alexa Richardson 2, Waycee Harvey 2, Saige Kidd 2, Coy Erickson 1, Megan Jacobsen 1

Steals — Waycee Harvey 2, Kami Jensen 2, Saige Kidd 1, Megan Jacobsen 1

Blocks — Saige Kidd 1