The 3A State Basketball Tournament kicked off on March 13, bringing the eight best teams in the state to Casper, Wyoming. The games were played at the Ford Center and the Casper College campus.
From the east, Torrington(1), Wheatland (2), Buffalo (3), and Douglas (4) were the highest-placing teams after regionals. In the west, Lovell (1), Cody (2), Powell (3), and Mountain View (4) all qualified for the state tournament.
“My thoughts going into this tournament were pure confidence,” senior Jaxon Hancock said. “I thought we could sweep our first round and have a good chance at semifinals.”
The Panthers fell to Wheatland Bulldogs in round one 38-46 after scoring only eight points in the first half. This sent them to the consolation bracket to play the Douglas Bearcats in round two.
“Had we played both halves as good as we played after halftime, we most likely would have won that game,” business teacher and varsity Head Coach Mr. Mike Heny said. “It didn’t feel like we played our best basketball.”
After the first-round loss, the Panthers regrouped and refocused for their next game against the Douglas Bearcats. The first time the Panthers faced them at the beginning of the season, the Bearcats won on a buzzerbeater at the end of the game.
“Unfortunately, we weren’t able to dig out of the hole we put ourselves in against [Wheatland],” Mr. Heny said. “I really believed we would beat Wheatland and get another chance to beat Lovell.”
In the second round, the Panthers and Bearcats kept a close game throughout. In the fourth quarter, the Bearcats pulled away to take victory over Powell.
“I was proud of how we played against Douglas on Friday, and it felt like the boys fought hard the entire game,” Mr. Heny said. “We just weren’t able to make enough plays on offense or defense down the stretch to get the win.”
With the loss to Douglas, the Panthers’ season and state tournament experience came to an end with a record of 17-12.
“I wish I had played more dominant during the season and kept the same confidence I had in the December tournaments,” Hancock said. “I feel like I could have put more effort in at state to maybe have changed the outcome.”
For girls varsity, the four teams from the east to make the state tournament were Douglas (1), Torrington (2), Wheatland (3), and Buffalo (4). In the west, Cody (1), Pinedale (2), Lander (3), and Powell (4) all qualified to participate.
“We were hoping to be able to secure a top 3 seed to avoid the defending champions, Douglas, in the first round,” math teacher and girls Assistant Varsity Coach Mr. Troy Hildebrand said. “However a couple of close losses at Regionals did put us as the number 4 seed.”
The Lady Panthers lost 58-38 to the defending champions, with Lauren Olsen of Douglas breaking the single-season scoring record in Wyoming girls basketball and scoring 29 points in the game.
“I knew in the first round we had Douglas, and it’s always hard playing the number one seed in the state first round,” senior Catelynn Floy said. “But I had confidence going into the next game.”
Due to their loss in round one, the Lady Panthers were matched up against Wheatland for the next game.
“We spent a lot of energy and emotion in that opening round game,” Mr. Hildebrand said. “We played a good Wheatland team Friday morning, and it was a true back-and-forth battle.”
Despite the constant lead changes against Wheatland, the Lady Panthers fell to the Bulldogs ending their season.
“This group had a very solid season at all three levels,” Mr. Hildebrand said. “So the future is bright for us, and we look forward to getting back to work.”
The Lady Panthers fell 62-57 and ended their season with a record of 15-10.
“It was a tough year,” Floy said. “But I’m glad I got to spend it with my teammates.”
