Jefferson High School’s basketball teams took on opponents from opposite ends of the standings last weekend: White Sulphur Springs, one of the weaker programs in Class C, and Sweet Grass County, whose boys team is at the top of the division.
The results were predictably different.
Boys’ basketball
White Sulphur Springs, a class C school, has had some boys teams that could hang with the Panthers, but not in the last few years. This game started out true to recent history: Jefferson’s boys exploded with a 9-0 run, then jumped to a 17-2 lead on a steal by Avery Stiles who fed Dalton Rykal for two, and a three by Stiles. After eight minutes, on a pair of free throws by Kieran Eveland and a steal and score by Bryce Harrington, the gap was up to 25-7.
The game’s crowd-pleasing moment was a steal by Harrington, who passed to Mead Blake then collected a great return pass for a lay-up. The mercy rule went into effect with the Panthers up 49-13, on the way to a 61-15 win. Harrington ended up with 14 points, Stiles 11 and Rykal 10. Every Panther saw action, with all either scoring or assisting.
Then came undefeated Sweet Grass County, the second-ranked class B team in the state. This team was no White Sulphur Springs: The Herders have a lot of talent and experience, with a starting core that has been playing together for four years. So far, they have not been challenged.
The Panthers stayed close in the first quarter, with freshman Trent McMaster putting down a pair of three -pointers and a two to lead the way. At the end of one, it was 20-15. But they struggled to get anything going in the second, and found themselves down 39-16 at the half.
The third quarter was a different story: The Panthers outscored the Herders 18-14, led by Dalton Rykal’s pair of threes and a two. But in the fourth, the iceberg closed in: Jefferson managed just a pair of three-pointers, and saw the Herders run away with a 69-40 victory.
Girls’ basketball
The Lady Panthers’ weekend was much the same. Facing the Hornets from White Sulphur Springs, Jefferson wasted little time in showing they were ready to play. The Panthers scored the game’s first 27 points, then ran to a 32-2 halftime margin on a three by Dakota Edmisten.
Jefferson substituted liberally, but at 6:10 remaining in the third and the Panthers up 43-2, the mercy rule kicked in. The Hornets hustled and kept their composure but were overmatched. Final score: 59-10. The Panthers’ scoring was spread around, but Rachel VanBlaricom led the way with 15, and Mykala Edmisten with 10.
On Saturday night, the Herders of Sweet Grass County arrived in Boulder. Both teams came into the game with 1-2 league and 4-3 overall records — and very similar team stats — promising an exciting match-up. The game lived up to that promise, staying tight until the end.
The first quarter saw the teams trade baskets and tie three times. Ashley Pankratz put the Panthers up 7-6 with a free throw with 1:57 left in the period, but a rare four-point play by the Herders’ Sydney Prather gave the visitors a three-point lead. VanBlaricom knocked down two straight baskets to tie the game at 16 with 3:45 left in the half, but the Herders responded with a 6-1 run to take a 22-17 lead at the break.
The first four points of the third went to Sweet Grass County. Jefferson stopped the run on threes by Ashley Pankratz and VanBlaricom, but the Herders took a 36-28 lead into the final quarter. The fourth quarter was all about free throws. The Herders went to the line 15 times and sank 10, while the Panthers made 14 of 23. Jefferson still had a chance, down 43-46 with 1:23 left, but when the clock ran out, the Herders were on top, 54-45. VanBlaricom led all scorers with 25 points.
This week, the Panthers travel to Deer Lodge Friday and host Broadwater Saturday — the annual Jefferson High School booster club “Pack the House Night.” Wear purple or gold and get in free. Sub-varsity games start at 1 p.m., JV games at 2:30 p.m., varsity boys at 4 p.m. and varsity girls at 5:30 p.m.
