Powell High School’s boys’ basketball team ventured to the far southwest corner of the state last weekend for the first time in the 2020-21 season. Playing against Lyman and Mountain View, the Panthers took a six-hour bus trip — an experience that head coach Mike Heny thinks will benefit his squad as it wraps up the regular season.

“The trip is always difficult and most of these kids had never experienced that trip,” Heny said. “It will serve us well these next couple of weeks since we will have to go on the road and get some big wins against quality teams.”

The Panthers went 1-1 on the weekend, falling 61-50 Friday to Lyman before beating Mountain View 55-53 in overtime Saturday.  The team’s record now sits at 13-3 overall and 3-1 in Class 3A Northwest.

In the weekend-opening loss to Lyman (9-7), the Panthers struggled to find an offensive groove. As a team, PHS shot 39% from the field and 28% from the three. Only two players — Landon Lengfelder and Brock Johnson — reached double figures. 

In addition to stagnant offense, the Panthers also couldn’t stop Lyman in the late stages of the game. Trailing by three going into the fourth quarter, the Eagles outscored PHS 22-8 in the final eight minutes to steal a win.

“Lyman is a really difficult place to play,” Heny said. “They play well in their own gym and you have to execute at a high level to beat them. We didn’t play that well on either end of the floor.”

One day later, the Panthers once again didn’t play their basketball. They shot an even-lower 28% from the field, and Lengfelder — who scored 20 points — was Powell’s only real offensive standout. 

Noticing a significant size advantage for Mountain View (11-5), Heny preached defensive intensity to his players, and they responded well enough to force overtime. In the overtime period, the Panthers sank enough crucial shots — including a game-winning 3-pointer from Johnson — to secure their 13th win of the year.

“It was one of those games on the road that we just found a way to win,” Heny said. “The kids overcame a lot during that game and I was extremely proud of the way they kept responding.”

In addition to Lengfelder, who led PHS in scoring in both games, Heny noted valuable efforts in both games from Mason Marchant, who tallied the most assists and rebounds. Defensively, Adrian Geller was the standout, recording four steals in the Mountain View game. 

Before regionals, PHS plays games against Lovell (home) and Lander Valley (road) on Friday and Saturday. 

Lyman 61, Powell 50

Points — Landon Lengfelder 13, Brock Johnson 10, Mason Marchant 9, Jaden Marchant 6, Trevor Groves 6, Adrian Geller 5, Zach Ratcliff 1; Rebounds — M. Marchant 9, Lengfelder 5, Geller 4, Johnson 3, Groves 3, J. Marchant 3, Ratcliff 2, Toran Graham 1; Assists — M. Marchant 6

Powell 55, Mountain View 53

Points — Lengfelder 20, Johnson 9, M. Marchant 9, Geller 7, Groves 5, J. Marchant 3, Landon Sessions 2; Rebounds — M. Marchant 6, Sessions 5, Geller 5, Ratcliff 4, J. Marchant 4, Groves 2, Lengfelder 2, Johnson 2; Assists — M. Marchant 4; Steals — Geller 4