Jefferson High’s basketball squads had a strong season-opening weekend at the Woodden Memorial Tip Off Basketball Tournament in Red Lodge, with the Panther boys taking both their games and the girls splitting theirs.
On Friday, the Panthers took on Columbus, with the girls playing first. This was a back-and-forth match until the end. Ryian Eveland put up the first points of the season, but Columbus responded with the next 7 points before the Panthers could get anything to go through the hoop. Finally, Arena Faler scored and Macklenzie Layng added a free throw, but the Cougars ended the first period with a 12-5 lead.
Hanna Stevens started the scoring in the second with a 2-pointer and later added another bucket to tie the score at 17, but the Cougars pulled away again for a 23-17 lead at the half.
In the third, Jaida Jurenka started the scoring with a free throw and the Panthers pulled to within one point on a pair of free throws by Eveland. But Columbus answered with a 12-0 run for a 38-25 lead. The Panthers once again came back, pulling to 35-39 on a Layng 3-pointer, but Columbus finished the third with 5 points to go up 44-35.
Cameron Toney started the final quarter with a basket, but then the Cougars got hot and the Panthers went cold, and Columbus rolled to a 63-44 win. Eveland led the Panthers with 19 points, while Layng had 12.
In the boys’ game, the Panthers went up 5-2 on a Dalton Noble basket, and were still leading, by 16-13, after one quarter. Noble made a great fake to get an uncontested basket, and Kellen Meredith scored to make it 18-14, but the next 6 points went to the Cougars, and Columbus held a 35-32 lead at the end of three.
Colt Tietje started the fourth with a swished 3-pointer, Noble added a pair of baskets and the Panthers took a 41-38 lead. Hunter Stevens made it 43-38 and then hit a pair of free throws, and the Panthers took a 46-41 win. Noble led the Panthers with 20 points, while Stevens added 7.
On Saturday the Panthers faced Sweet Grass County. The Herders and Panthers have been in the same conference for years, but redistricting in Class B this year has broken up the rivalry. District 5B is now composed of Jefferson, Manhattan, Three Forks, Lone Peak, Whitehall, Ennis and Broadwater.
In the boys’ game, Kellen Meredith opened the scoring, and Noble followed with the next 6 points to put the Panthers up 8-3. The Herders came back to tie the score at 8 and then 10, but Tietje hit a three at the buzzer to give the Panthers a 14-13 lead.
In the second, pair of baskets by Marcus Lee gave the Panthers a 22-19 lead, Parker Wagner hit a 3-pointer, and Meridith scored to put the Panthers up 30-24. The third quarter was all Panthers, with Caleb Morris capping the run a three to make it 55-33. The Panthers subbed freely in the fourth quarter and took the win 73-42. Noble again led the scoring, with 24 points, while Tietje had 11 and Wagner 9.
The Lady Panthers pulled out 46-44 win from a taut match. It sure did not look good at the start, as Jefferson found itself down 19-6 early in the second period. Layng hit a three that put some spark into the team but there was still a long road back. But a steal and score by Stevens, a basket by Brooklyn Miller, and four more points by Layng pulled the Panthers to 22-26 at the half.
With the Panthers still down 26-31, in the third, Layng hit a pair of free throws and Miller two more. A three and a two by Eveland made it 31-35. Then Eveland tied the score at 37 with two free throws, and Layng put the Panthers up 39-37 two more.
Eveland made it 43-42, and it was a heart stopper from then on. After trading buckets, the Herders had the ball with 43 seconds left and were going for the last shot but lost the ball. The Panthers also lost control, but stole the ball back and forced the Herders to foul. Stevens went to the line and made the first shot and missed the second — and the Panthers held on for the 46-44 win. Layng led the Panthers with 21 points, while Miller and Eveland added 8 each.
Coach of the year
Jefferson’s Karson Klass was named coach of the year for Class B cross country by the Montana Coaches Association. Klass guided the Panther boys to its first state championship in 31 years this fall. Congrats!
