After another weekend of tests, the Powell Panther girls’ basketball team has continued its undefeated start in 3A Northwest quadrant play. Powell defeated Worland 44-28 on the road before coming up just short against No. 2-ranked Buffalo on Saturday 52-49 despite Coy Erickson tying the school record for 3-pointers with five in the contest.

POWELL 44, WORLAND 28

Heading down to Worland the No. 5-ranked Panthers (11-5 overall, 4-0 3A Northwest) hoped to continue their dominant form in the 3A Northwest against the Warriors (4-15 overall, 1-4 3A Northwest) on Friday.

Matching up for the third time this season brought familiarity between the two teams, and a defensive battle ensued throughout the first quarter.

Neither team gained a significant advantage as the contest went into the second quarter tied 6-6 as Catelynn Floy led the way with four points.

“We started out slow. We’ve been battling sickness all week and we are still battling it,” coach Chelsea Kistler said.

Worland took the lead to start the second quarter, and held it for several minutes before the Panthers eventually took the lead at 12-10 after five straight points from Addy Thorington.

She continued her strong scoring, finishing with eight in the quarter and for the game.

Powell ended the quarter strong behind Emery Hernandez who chipped in her four points for the game late in the frame and made it 21-13 going into the half.

The Panthers created more separation between the two teams in the third quarter, opening up a significant double-digit advantage up 35-16 late in the quarter behind strong scoring from Floy and Ivy Agee.

“We had some really good bench sparks,” Kistler said. “It makes you a tougher team when you are getting a lot of production from your bench.”

With a strong defensive presence Powell held the Warriors to three points in the quarter and  grew the lead to 21 up 41-20 with 3:30 left in the contest, before finishing out the night with a 44-28 victory.

Floy led with 14 points and six steals while Thorington led with 11 rebounds and chipped in eight points.

“It was good to see Catelynn get going in Worland,” Kistler said.

The Panthers assisted on 13 of their 18 made baskets in the contest.

BUFFALO 52, POWELL 49

Heading into Saturday it was a top five matchup for the Panthers, welcoming No. 2-ranked Buffalo (14-1 overall, 3-0 3A Northeast) to town.

Early on the Panthers were getting good looks at the basket but were unable to find points, trailing 6-2 three minutes in.

Powell finally scored at the free throw line, but was unable to convert effectively early as Buffalo built a double-digit advantage late in the quarter.

“Buffalo is a good team, they are really fast,” Kistler said. “I felt like we missed some defensive assignments that we knew how to guard and we knew what they were doing but we didn’t execute it.”

That was before Erickson hit back-to-back 3-pointers to spark the Panthers and cut the deficit down to 15-11 heading into the second.

Out of the quarter Erickson hit a third straight 3-pointer and cut the lead to 15-14.

A couple of turnovers continued to give the visitors opportunities, as Buffalo led throughout the second quarter.

The Panthers briefly captured the lead up 23-22 with 2:30 left on a Thorington basket, but timely shotmaking was a common theme for the Bison as they immediately recaptured their advantage.

Powell continued to battle but still trailed heading into the half 29-25.

In the third, point guard Waycee Harvey went to the bench early with a third foul, but the Panthers continued to stay close, trailing 37-31 midway through the third quarter.

A fourth 3-pointer from Erickson cut it down to 37-34, but Buffalo kept the Panthers at arms’ length heading into the fourth with a 42-36 advantage.

Buffalo led by as many as eight in the fourth quarter, but a fifth 3-pointer from Erickson midway through gave the Panthers a spark as a Floy layup cut the lead down to three with four minutes left.

Free throws from Thorington cut the lead down to one, but Buffalo continued to find timely shots and not allow Powell to tie or take the lead.

“We could never get over the hump,” Kistler said. “I felt like if we could get over the hump and take the lead that probably would have pushed us forward enough to clinch that victory.”

Over the final minutes both teams made free throws, and Powell needed a 3-pointer late to tie, trailing 52-49 with 21 seconds left.

The Panthers were unable to find the right play, with Erickson face-guarded throughout the final two attempts. Buffalo finished with the 52-49 win in a game Kistler said she and the Panthers learned lessons from.

“The game had a weird pace even though it was a fast-paced game,” Kistler said. “The girls learned from that game, I learned from that game. We all got stronger to push into the postseason.”

Erickson tied the school record with her five 3-pointers, finishing with a 19 point, 10 rebound double-double — the first of her career.

“She shot the ball really well,” Kistler said.

Thorington finished with 11 points and eight rebounds alongside four blocks.

Floy added nine points and eight rebounds including six offensive in the game.

BRIDGER VALLEY OPPONENTS

Powell does not get any time to rest, as they will welcome two more strong opponents to town this upcoming weekend from the 3A Southwest.

That will start with a game against Lyman (10-6 overall, 2-2 3A Southwest) at 5:30 p.m. on Friday.

It will be followed by a contest against No. 4-ranked Mountain View (15-3 overall, 2-2 3A Southwest) at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday.

“Our schedule does not get any easier,” Kistler said. “It’s a weekend of understanding personnel and understanding how to guard people. That is going to be our focus this week.”

All rankings are courtesy of the WyoPreps Coaches and Media poll, new polls are released each Wednesday.

POWELL 44, WORLAND 28

Total rebounds then offensive rebounds in ()

Points — Catelynn Floy 14, Addy Thorington 8, Ivy Agee 5, Coy Erickson 4, Emery Hernandez 4, Saige Kidd 3, Alexa Richardson 2, Lauryn Bennett 2, Waycee Harvey 1, Kenzie Fields 1

Rebounds — Addy Thorington 11 (3), Catelynn Floy 5 (3), Waycee Harvey 4 (1), Alexa Richardson 3 (2), Coy Erickson 3 (2), Saige Kidd 3 (2), Emery Hernandez 1 (1), Kenzie Fields 1, Lauryn Bennett 1 (1)

Assists — Waycee Harvey 3, Ivy Agee 2, Addy Thorington 2, Saige Kidd 2, Alexa Richardson 1, Coy Erickson 1, Kenzie Fields 1, Catelynn Floy 1

Steals — Catelynn Floy 6, Coy Erickson 3, Ivy Agee 2, Addy Thorington 2, Alexa Richardson 1, Emery Hernandez 1, Saige Kidd 1, Kenzie Fields 1

Blocks — Addy Thorington 1, Saige Kidd 1, Catelynn Floy 1

BUFFALO 52, POWELL 49

Points — Coy Erickson 19, Addy Thorington 11, Catelynn Floy 9, Alexa Richardson 3, Waycee Harvey 3, Emery Hernandez 2, Saige Kidd 2

Rebounds — Coy Erickson 10 (2), Addy Thorington 8, Catelynn Floy 8 (6), Alexa Richardson 2 (1), Waycee Harvey 2 (1), Saige Kidd 2 (1), Ivy Agee 1 (1), Emery Hernandez 1

Assists — Alexa Richardson 4, Addy Thorington 4, Ivy Agee 3, Coy Erickson 1, Emery Hernandez 1, Saige Kidd 1

Steals — Emery Hernandez 3, Waycee Harvey 1, Coy Erickson 1, Saige Kidd 1

Blocks — Addy Thorington 4, Ivy Agee 1, Emery Hernandez 1