Team breaks with losses to Lovell, BuffaloThe Powell High School boys' basketball team showed improvement over the weekend, but remains in search of the season's first victory following a 47-34 loss at Lovell on Thursday and a 64-37 Saturday loss to top-ranked Buffalo. The team breaks for the holiday recess with an 0-7 mark.“We're playing better,” said Powell head coach Mike Heny. “We need to keep working in practice and keep getting better. Our free throw shooting really hurt us this week. You can't play a team like Buffalo and hit less than 50 percent from the line.”To be certain, the Panthers looked like a better basketball team in both weekend games. Powell solved the troubling slow starts that plagued the team in the first five games of the season, but still had difficulties in scoring at other times. Those dry stretches made all the difference. Facing 3A's top-ranked Buffalo Bison, Powell matched the visiting team nearly point-for-point throughout the first quarter, but went almost the entire second period without hitting a shot from the floor. David Starcevich's steal and breakaway layup snapped an almost eight-minute field goal drought by the Panthers. Powell had just three free throws to show for that stretch as Buffalo transformed a 15-10 lead into a 31-15 halftime lead.The Panthers were unable to mount a serious challenge to the lead in the second half. While the team managed to trim one point off the gap in the third quarter, Buffalo controlled play over the final eight minutes to wear the Panthers out and earn the 27-point win. Starcevich finished with 10 points in the contest. A.J. Anderson added seven points in support for Powell. On Thursday, the Panthers battled neighboring Lovell, coming up short by a 47-34 final count. Powell enjoyed its best start to date this season, despite playing more than four minutes before hitting a shot from the floor. Once the Panthers broke through the lid atop the bucket, Powell matched Lovell point-for-point as the teams entered the second quarter knotted at 8-8 on the scoreboard.The game marked the first time this season the Panthers began the second quarter within 10 points of an opponent. The two schools continued playing close in the early stages of the second period. A pair of Chase Partridge free throws placed a 14-14 tie on the scoreboard with 3:26 remaining in the first half. Unfortunately for the Panther faithful who made the short trek east, Partridge's two free throws would be Powell's last before intermission. Lovell closed the first half on a 9-0 run to carry a 23-14 lead into the locker room. The host Bulldogs pushed the lead into double figures early in the third quarter and spent much of the period with greater than a 10-point lead. Lovell's advantage reached a maximum of 17 points early in the fourth quarter before Powell reeled off a 7-0 run, capped by a David Starcevich 3-pointer, to pull within 10 with 3:08 to play. The Panthers added just three more points in the final minute though as Lovell re-extended its lead. For the game, Starcevich and Partridge each finished with seven points. Billy Harshman and A.J. Anderson scored six apiece. Harshman and Partridge each pulled down eight of the Panthers' 24 rebounds in the contest. “A lot of it comes down to eliminating our mistakes,” Heny said of the dry stretches that plagued Powell over the weekend. “We'll play well for a period of time, but then we'll chain together some bad passes or we'll rush some shots. We can't make those mistakes.”The Panthers also need improvement at the foul line, according to their coach. Powell knocked down just five of 14 free throw attempts against Lovell. The team shot slightly better on Saturday, but still connected less than half the time with a 15-for-32 performance.“If we step to the free throw line and miss twice, that's really no different than a turnover,” said Heny. “You add some of those points, and it changes the complexion of the game. Who knows how they (the opposing team) will react if we get a few of those points.”The Panthers will have three weeks to continue to improve. The team opens the 2010 portion of its schedule with a road swing to Mountain View and Lyman on Jan. 8-9. Buffalo 64, PHS 37Team scoring: David Starcevich 10, Cooper Wise 2, Zane Bushnell 1, Josh Cragoe 6, Regan Soloai 4, A.J. Anderson 7, Billy Harshman 1, Chase Partridge 6.Team leaders —Partridge (8 rebounds, 2 blocked shots).Lovell 47, PHS 34Team scoring: David Starcevich 7, Cooper Wise 2, Josh Cragoe 4, Regan Soloai 2, A.J. Anderson 6, Billy Harshman 6, Chase Partridge 7.Team Leaders —Harshman and Partridge (8 rebounds), Partridge (3 steals, 2 blocked shots).

Team breaks with losses to Lovell, Buffalo

The Powell High School boys' basketball team showed improvement over the weekend, but remains in search of the season's first victory following a 47-34 loss at Lovell on Thursday and a 64-37 Saturday loss to top-ranked Buffalo. The team breaks for the holiday recess with an 0-7 mark.

“We're playing better,” said Powell head coach Mike Heny. “We need to keep working in practice and keep getting better. Our free throw shooting really hurt us this week. You can't play a team like Buffalo and hit less than 50 percent from the line.”

To be certain, the Panthers looked like a better basketball team in both weekend games. Powell solved the troubling slow starts that plagued the team in the first five games of the season, but still had difficulties in scoring at other times.

Those dry stretches made all the difference.

Facing 3A's top-ranked Buffalo Bison, Powell matched the visiting team nearly point-for-point throughout the first quarter, but went almost the entire second period without hitting a shot from the floor.

David Starcevich's steal and breakaway layup snapped an almost eight-minute field goal drought by the Panthers. Powell had just three free throws to show for that stretch as Buffalo transformed a 15-10 lead into a 31-15 halftime lead.

The Panthers were unable to mount a serious challenge to the lead in the second half. While the team managed to trim one point off the gap in the third quarter, Buffalo controlled play over the final eight minutes to wear the Panthers out and earn the 27-point win.

Starcevich finished with 10 points in the contest. A.J. Anderson added seven points in support for Powell.

On Thursday, the Panthers battled neighboring Lovell, coming up short by a 47-34 final count.

Powell enjoyed its best start to date this season, despite playing more than four minutes before hitting a shot from the floor. Once the Panthers broke through the lid atop the bucket, Powell matched Lovell point-for-point as the teams entered the second quarter knotted at 8-8 on the scoreboard.

The game marked the first time this season the Panthers began the second quarter within 10 points of an opponent.

The two schools continued playing close in the early stages of the second period. A pair of Chase Partridge free throws placed a 14-14 tie on the scoreboard with 3:26 remaining in the first half. Unfortunately for the Panther faithful who made the short trek east, Partridge's two free throws would be Powell's last before intermission. Lovell closed the first half on a 9-0 run to carry a 23-14 lead into the locker room.

The host Bulldogs pushed the lead into double figures early in the third quarter and spent much of the period with greater than a 10-point lead. Lovell's advantage reached a maximum of 17 points early in the fourth quarter before Powell reeled off a 7-0 run, capped by a David Starcevich 3-pointer, to pull within 10 with 3:08 to play.

The Panthers added just three more points in the final minute though as Lovell re-extended its lead.

For the game, Starcevich and Partridge each finished with seven points. Billy Harshman and A.J. Anderson scored six apiece. Harshman and Partridge each pulled down eight of the Panthers' 24 rebounds in the contest.

“A lot of it comes down to eliminating our mistakes,” Heny said of the dry stretches that plagued Powell over the weekend. “We'll play well for a period of time, but then we'll chain together some bad passes or we'll rush some shots. We can't make those mistakes.”

The Panthers also need improvement at the foul line, according to their coach. Powell knocked down just five of 14 free throw attempts against Lovell. The team shot slightly better on Saturday, but still connected less than half the time with a 15-for-32 performance.

“If we step to the free throw line and miss twice, that's really no different than a turnover,” said Heny. “You add some of those points, and it changes the complexion of the game. Who knows how they (the opposing team) will react if we get a few of those points.”

The Panthers will have three weeks to continue to improve. The team opens the 2010 portion of its schedule with a road swing to Mountain View and Lyman on Jan. 8-9.

Buffalo 64, PHS 37

Team scoring: David Starcevich 10, Cooper Wise 2, Zane Bushnell 1, Josh Cragoe 6, Regan Soloai 4, A.J. Anderson 7, Billy Harshman 1, Chase Partridge 6.

Team leaders —Partridge (8 rebounds, 2 blocked shots).

Lovell 47, PHS 34

Team scoring: David Starcevich 7, Cooper Wise 2, Josh Cragoe 4, Regan Soloai 2, A.J. Anderson 6, Billy Harshman 6, Chase Partridge 7.

Team Leaders —Harshman and Partridge (8 rebounds), Partridge (3 steals, 2 blocked shots).