Fall in pair of weekend games

Despite rallying to put up a season-best 80 points, Powell High School’s boys basketball team fell to Lander on Friday, then was bested by an undefeated Riverton squad on Saturday.

Lander 86, Powell 80

Powell (3-15 overall, 0-5 in the Class 3A West North Quadrant) traveled to Lander (9-10, 2-3) on Friday night.

“It was just a weird game; it was a roller coaster ride,” said PHS head coach Chase Kistler.

Friday night was senior night for Lander High School and the Tigers came into the game firing.

At the end of the first quarter, Powell trailed 25-4. Throughout the next three quarters, however, Powell rallied.

“Our guys just kind of hung out and grinded away,” said Kistler.

The Panthers cut the lead to one point in the fourth quarter. Lander then extended its lead to about 10 points and Powell pulled back to within four before falling by a six-point margin, 86-80.

“(It was) probably the best team effort we’ve have had offensively ... scoring wise,” said Kistler.

Beyond the Panthers piling up points, the coach said he “was more impressed with how our guys fought back. At the end of the first quarter, they could have been, ‘forget this,’ and checked out.”

Statistics from the game were not available at press time, but Kistler said the Panthers had four players reach double digits and three players with roughly seven to nine points.

“Defensively, we definitely gave up some points,” Kistler said. “It turned into one of those games that Lander likes to play: fast and running and scoring everywhere.”

Riverton 75, Powell 36

On Saturday, Powell turned around to face Riverton (22-0, 5-0), where the Panthers posted a 75-36 loss in their final home game of the season.

The Panthers have only two seniors on the team, Paige Gann and TJ Abraham, who were honored Saturday evening,.

The 40-point mercy rule kicked in roughly halfway through the fourth quarter.

“I wish we could have put up more points,” said Kistler. “They (Riverton) play great defense and they run with the ball like crazy. They are a good team; that’s all I can say.”

On fast break situations, Riverton doesn’t dribble the ball, “It’s one, two, three passes, laying it in (the basket),” said Kistler.

The coach added that the Wolverines are a “veteran team that doesn’t make mistakes.” Riverton has seven seniors listed on its roster.

On Friday, Powell will travel to Cody to take on the Broncs at 7 p.m. for the final game of the regular season.

The 3A West Regional Tournament will be in Riverton on March 3 and 4.