Powell High School’s ninth-grade girls’ basketball wrapped up the season last week, beating Rocky Mountain and Cody on Feb. 15 and 16, respectively. 

With the wins, the Panthers’ final record came to 13-2 overall. In a year where several states had to cancel their high-school basketball seasons, head coach Andrew Borcher was appreciative of the opportunity to coach the squad amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“As the year concludes, I am thankful we had a season,” Borcher said.

Powell’s last road game came against the Grizzlies, where a well-balanced scoring effort fueled the Panthers to a win. Katie O’Brien and Kenzie Ratcliff both scored nine points, tied for the most on the team. 

Though Borcher noted lapses in the team’s defense in the second half, he said the girls’ efforts on the glass in the first half were enough to secure a 45-35 win. 

“I felt like we did a great job in the first half controlling the boards and really did a nice job defensively,” Borcher said. 

In the Panthers’ final game, against the Fillies, Borcher’s message to his team was simple: Leave everything on the floor. They did that. 

An 18-2 first-quarter lead paved the way for a 44-19 rout of Cody to conclude the 2020-21 season. This time, Brynn Hillman led the Panthers with 16 points, while Waycee Harvey also reached double figures with 12. 

In such a season — with multiple games canceled due to the pandemic — Borcher was especially impressed with the girls’ effort throughout the season. 

“I want to thank the players for a great season,” he said. “13-2 is something to be proud of.”

Borcher expressed thanks for the parents, trainer Alan Hill, upper-level coaches Chelsea Buher and Troy Hildebrand, and PHS Activities Director Scott McKenzie.