The conference season is upon the Panthers girls’ basketball team. The Powell High School squad dropped its first two games within the Class 3A northwest over the weekend, losing at home to Lander 47-25 and a heartbreaker on the road at Worland 45-43 to fall to 5-6 overall and 0-2 in the quadrant.

LANDER 47, POWELL 25

Going into the first conference game on Friday, Panther head coach Chelsea Buher knew that the matchup would be difficult as Lander (6-3 overall, 1-0 3A northwest) returned nearly their entire team from last year.

“They had everyone returning essentially, so they bring a lot of experience to the table,” Buher said.

Lander took a 9-3 lead early on a 3-pointer in the corner, which proved to be the Achilles’ heel for the Panthers defense throughout the contest.

“We didn’t play our best game, unfortunately, and that is something you must do against a team with the caliber of Lander,” Buher said. “They shot well from the outside, hitting 6-of-7 threes.”

The Panthers were able to pull the game within four, but trailed 13-7 going into the second quarter. Lander then started to show their experience against the young Panther squad, opening up a 21-9 lead midway through the quarter.

In the final minute of the half, Lander had a small 5-0 run and hit a 3-pointer just before the buzzer to go up 28-13.

Both teams struggled to score early in the second half, as Lander mustered the only three points of the first four minutes off a jumper in the first minute and a free throw to extend the lead to 31-13.

The Panthers only scored three points in the third quarter off a jumper from junior Maddie Campbell and a free throw from sophomore Waycee Harvey with a second left in the quarter as Lander took a 39-16 lead going into the fourth quarter.

With the score at 47-17 with just under five minutes remaining, the Panthers finished the game on an 8-0 run to make the final score 47-25.

Campbell led the scoring effort for the Panthers, as she was the only player in double figures with 12.

WORLAND 45, POWELL 43

After the disappointing loss Friday night, the Panthers traveled to Worland on Saturday to take on the Warriors (5-7 overall, 1-1 3A northwest).

Powell and Worland battled to an 8-8 tie in the first five minutes until the Warriors hit a 3-pointer to pull ahead for nearly the remainder of the game. A Campbell jumper with 10 seconds remaining in the quarter made it 16-10, Worland.

The Panthers continued to trail by two or three possessions throughout the second quarter until freshman Catelynn Floy knocked down a pair of free throws to make it a two-point game with 2:12 remaining in the second quarter.

Worland pulled back ahead to 22-18 and it appeared the Panthers would get the last possession of the first half, but a steal by Worland led to a fast break, layup and 3-point play at the buzzer. It gave the Warriors a 25-18 lead at halftime.

“We have to be sure to finish strong throughout each quarter and going into halftime,” Buher said. 

Early in the second half, Worland pushed its lead to 30-18, but a 3-pointer by Harvey at the top of the key stopped the bleeding and ended a 10-0 Warrior run. The Panthers battled back and went on a 10-4 run of their own to make the score 34-28 going into the fourth quarter.

Worland still led 43-36 with a minute remaining, but the Lady Panthers would not go away.

Buher turned to her bench late in the game defensively, putting in sophomore Kenzie Fields, who had not played a single minute of varsity action to that point in the season.

“Kenzie [Fields] did a great job coming in for us for her varsity contest. She does a fantastic job of pressuring the ball and creating offensive opportunities for herself and her teammates,” Buher said. “She also has a great shot out along the perimeter, which provides us with another scoring aspect.”

Campbell hit a 3-pointer with 43 seconds left and a subsequent steal by Harvey led to a basket by freshman Saige Kidd. That pulled the Panthers within two points with 29 seconds left.

Another steal by Floy gave the Panthers a chance. She was fouled on the following play and knocked down two free throws to tie the game with seven seconds remaining.

Unfortunately for the Panthers, Warrior sophomore Yahaira Aguayo — who had 16 points — raced down to the other end and had her layup roll around the rim and drop in at the buzzer to give Worland the 45-43 victory.

“I’m very proud of how the girls fought back and gave themselves an opportunity to come out on top,” Buher said. “We have to work on coming out of the gates faster and stronger, so we aren’t always fighting to get out of a hole.”

RIVALRY MATCHUPS

The Panthers will come up against some familiar foes this weekend, as they play two teams they’ve already faced this season: Lovell (11-2 overall, 1-0 3A northwest) and Cody (11-0 overall, 3-0 4A west).

The Panthers dropped the Big Horn Basin Classic championship to Lovell just a week ago, and Buher is hoping that her team can make the improvements to beat the Bulldogs on the road this time around. The game begins at 5:30 p.m. at Lovell High School.

“We will go back to the drawing board and adjust a few things going into Lovell,” Buher said. “We didn’t play our best game vs them in the championship game of the Big Horn Basin tourney, but I know we will see a different team coming Friday night.”

The Panthers will then make the short trip over to Cody on Saturday, to take on the No. 2 ranked team in 4A in the Cody Fillies at 5:30 p.m. Cody defeated the Panthers 51-17 just before Christmas break, as Powell will look to gauge its improvement after dealing with sickness and injuries.

LANDER 47, POWELL 25

Points — Maddie Campbell 12, Saige Kidd 4, Catelynn Floy 4, Waycee Harvey 3, Megan Jacobsen 2

Rebounds — Floy 5, Jacobsen 4, Harvey 4, Campbell 2, Abby Wambeke 1, Kidd 1

Assists — Harvey 2, Kidd 1, Lauryn Bennett 1, Floy 1, Jacobsen 1

Steals — Campbell 3, Jacobsen 3, Kaili Wisniewski 2, Floy 2, Harvey 1, Kidd 1, Bennett 1

WORLAND 45, POWELL 43

Points — Campbell 11, Kidd 9, Floy 9, Harvey 7, Kenzie Ratcliff 5, Wisniewski 2

Rebounds — Kidd 8, Campbell 6, Floy 4, Jacobsen 3, Harvey 3, Wisniewski 2, Ratcliff 1, Gretel Opps 1

Assists — Campbell 3, Harvey 2, Wisniewski 2, Jacobsen 2, Kidd 1, Floy 1

Steals — Harvey 3, Floy 2, Wisniewski 1, Jacobsen 1