The Powell girls’ basketball team fell behind visiting Lovell 7-2 Friday night, when Rose Graft’s 2-pointer was all the Panthers could muster in the first period.

The game’s ponderous start, however, belied an inspiring 37-33 overtime win by the never-say-die Panthers of first-year head Coach Chelsea Buher.

Both Powell wins this season have come at the expense of the Bulldogs, first by way of a buzzer beater in the Big Horn Basin Shootout and again in Friday’s OT screamer.

“This second time could have gone either way,” Buher said after the game. “It was fun.”

The coach added she was “so proud of those girls” for their tenacity.

Madison Fields drained a 3-pointer near the 6:20 mark of the second period to put the Panthers up 10-7 and at halftime it was Powell by just four, 15-11.

The teams battled to a 21-all tie after three. Ten points apiece later at the regulation buzzer, the board displayed a matched brace of 31s.

Rhett Partridge of Lovell drew first blood in the four-minute extra period with a free throw. However, Powell answered with a bucket from Hailee Hyde with 1:20 left. That was followed by a steal from Graft, who took it nearly the full length of the court to bring the house down and make it 35-32. A free throw each from Maddie Campbell and Fields sealed the deal.

“It was a dogfight,” said Buher. “We were both looking for our second win.”

Between Powell (2-10 overall, 1-2 in Class 3A Northwest) and Lovell (1-13, 0-3), “we’re in the same boat” with young, inexperienced squads, Buher said.

The PHS coach felt there was a stretch where her Panthers, “started playing not to lose” instead of taking charge.

“You can’t think about the shot you just missed,” Buher said. Much better, she counsels, to put the miss out of mind and “go hit the next one.”

Fields led Panther scoring with nine points, including a pair of threes, while Sabrina Shoopman added eight points and five rebounds. Graft’s bottom line featured six rebounds and five steals, both team highs, fortified by six points. Powell struggled at the line, converting just six of 24 chances.

Partridge was the game-high scorer with 16 for Lovell. No other Bulldog accounted for more than four points.

The Panthers visit Pinedale (6-9) at 5:30 p.m. Friday and Big Piney (3-11) at 11:30 a.m. Saturday.

Powell 37, Lovell 33 (OT)

Lovell — Partridge 16, Rael 4, Woodford 4, Owens 4, Mayes 3, Newman 2.

Powell — Fields 9, Shoopman 8, Graft 6, Campbell 6, Paije Johnson 5, Hyde 3.

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