Panther girls open conference play 2-0

Posted 1/26/16

Wins over Lovell and Lander on Friday and Saturday put the Powell High School girls basketball team’s record at 6-5 overall, but a perfect 2-0 in the Class 3A Northwest Conference games that largely determine seeding in the postseason.

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Panther girls open conference play 2-0

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The Panthers entered the weekend with a losing record and, in one sense, came out of it undefeated.

Wins over Lovell and Lander on Friday and Saturday put the Powell High School girls basketball team’s record at 6-5 overall, but a perfect 2-0 in the Class 3A Northwest Conference games that largely determine seeding in the postseason.

“We won the two we really needed to,” said PHS head coach Scott McKenzie.

The girls started their weekend with a 46-41 victory in Lovell.

“That’s a tough place to win, and for us to go over and steal a conference win, really was a key for us,” said McKenzie, saying it could be “a big one down the road.”

The Powell girls then dismantled Lander, 53-31, in a Saturday home game.

McKenzie said his squad dramatically cut down on its unforced errors from the prior week while everyone filled their roles.

Powell 46, Lovell 41

In a rematch of last year’s 3A championship game, Powell and Lovell (7-3 overall, 1-1 in Class 3A Northwest) played to a 10-10 tie in the first quarter.

PHS used a smaller line-up to pull ahead in a 13-4 second period, sinking 9-of-11 free throws.

“We really attacked the rim,” McKenzie said, adding, “I thought a key was we got some of their good players in foul trouble.”

PHS took that 23-14 halftime lead and built it into a 36-25 advantage by the end of the third quarter.

“And then Lovell made a good run of us,” McKenzie said.

The Bulldogs cut the PHS advantage to a single point in the final period, but the Panthers held them off. The Powell girls made only 4-of-8 free throws in the fourth quarter, but each of those makes was the front end of a one-and-one.

“I thought being in these close games all year paid off in this one,” McKenzie said. “We held our composure and we were able to take care of the ball and finish up.”

Senior Breanna Donarski had 14 points, including going a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line.

Senior Danna Hanks registered a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds and also added five steals.

Sophomore Maddy Hanks scored eight points (plus nine rebounds), senior Richelle Phister and junior Jennifer Bonander each had six points and freshman Rachel Bonander had two.

PHS made only 12 of its 36 attempts from the floor (32.4 percent), but sank 22-of-28 free throw attempts (a stellar 78.6 percent). In contrast, Lovell went 5-of-14 from the line.

Powell 53, Lander 31

Led by 10 points from Danna Hanks, the Powell girls jumped out to a 19-6 lead in the first quarter of Saturday’s matchup with Lander (8-6 overall, 0-2 in Class 3A Northwest).

The Panthers bolstered their advantage from there and led 37-15 at the half.

“The first half against Lander was just great basketball,” McKenzie said. “We threw it ahead and scored and stole it and scored.”

The Powell girls didn’t make a single 3-pointer over the weekend, but the coach said that reflects on how many fast breaks and easy baskets the team picked up. McKenzie said it’s an area where the girls have “really really improved upon and are playing so unselfishly.”

He also praised his squad’s “great defense” and contributions from the whole roster.

Lander played even with the Panthers in the second half but never threatened.

Danna Hanks led the team with 17 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the floor, collected a season-best 15 rebounds and had six assists. It was her sixth double-double of the year.

“I don’t think I know of a guard that’s done that,” McKenzie said, adding the 15 rebounds were the most he’d seen while a girl’s coach.

Maddy Hanks, meanwhile, scored 12 points on only six shots.

“She had a great weekend for us. She’s really starting to fit in and gel — and she was really on the boards, too,” McKenzie said.

Donarski also broke into double figures again with 11 points and she also had five steals.

Rachel Bonander scored four points, Jennifer Bonander had three, while Richelle Phister, junior Tayli Stenerson and sophomore Mariah Phister each added two.

As a team, the Panthers shot 23-of-45 (43.4 percent) from the floor and 7-of-13 (53.8 percent) from the free throw line.

Junior Dani Asay, who’s been out for the past two weeks with a high ankle sprain, is expected to return to action this week.

“The girls just, they really rallied together without Dani ... and it just shows the cohesion of this team,” McKenzie said. (We) had huge play from girls when she’s been gone.”

The Panthers will travel to play a couple of opponents from Class 3A Southwest this weekend. They’ll face Mountain View (8-3 overall) at 5:30 p.m. Friday and Pinedale (8-3) at 2 p.m. Saturday.

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