The Jefferson High basketball squads saw their postseason run come to an end last weekend at the Class B Southern Division tournament in Billings, both falling short of advancing to this week’s state tournament.
The Panther girls opened Thursday against Shepherd, bolstered by high hopes and an enthusiastic pack of fans who made the trip to MetraPark Arena. KK Morris got the Panthers on the board with a free throw, and Kodee Cummings quickly followed with a free throw and two baskets to spark a 6–0 start. Brianna Layng added a three-pointer and Cummings knocked down another as Jefferson built an 18–13 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Panthers extended their advantage in the second. Hannah Stevens drilled a three-pointer to make it 21–16, Brooklyn Miller followed a steal with a three of her own, and Layng added another basket as Jefferson carried a 32–23 lead into halftime.
Stevens and Parker Layng each connected from beyond the arc in the third quarter as the Panthers pushed the margin to 49–29 heading into the final period. With reserves seeing most of the fourth-quarter action, Jefferson closed out the 63–38 win. Cummings led the way with 20 points, followed by Stevens with 17 and Josie Oxarart with 8.
The victory set the Panthers up for a second-round date with undefeated and top-ranked Baker. The Spartans, last year’s Class B runner-up, sure looked like a team that’s going all the way this year. They jumped out to a 14–3 lead and built a 42–22 lead by halftime. Baker’s hot shooting never let up, and the Spartans cruised to an 83-42 win. Oxarart led the Panthers in this one with 14 points, and Cummings added 8.
That put Jefferson in the consolation bracket needing a win to clinch a spot at State. Their opponent was Sweet Grass County, an old and good rival — and for a while, it looked like the Panthers might be making the trip to Bozeman this week. In a low-scoring affair, the girls started slowly and the Herders took advantage, going up 5-0. But Oxarart hit a pair of two pointers, Brianna Layng swished a long three and Jefferson 10-7 after one period.
The Panthers still clung to a slim 18-16 at the half. But then, the tide shifted. Maybe it was tired legs from the Baker game — but after Oxarart began the third quarter with a pair of baskets, the Herders made a run to take a 26-22 lead with eight minutes to play. A five-second call on Jefferson trying to inbound the ball gave Sweet Grass an opening, and with a 10-point margin, the Herders were happy going to a slow game. The Panthers still had a chance to close the gap, but five missed free throws out of six sealed their fate.The final: 40-27, Sweet Grass.
Brianna Layng and Stevens each had 8 points, and Oxarart 6. The Herders ultimately knocked off Huntley Project, last year’s Class B champs, for third place. Baker annihilated Ennis, 79-38, for the division crown.
The Jefferson boys opened divisional play against Shepherd. Logan Frydenlund hit a pair of free throws early to make it 5–4, and baskets by Tyzer Zody and Tyler Frydenlund briefly gave the Panthers a 10–9 lead.
But Shepherd responded with a big run, outsourcing Jefferson 22-7 in the second quarter en route to a 38–19 halftime lead. The Mustangs extended their advantage to 43–25 after three quarters and went on to win 65–39. Tyler Frydenlund led Jefferson with 13 points, followed by Logan Frydenlund with 10 and Cobe Burnett with 8.
Jefferson then took on St. Labre, a team known for its fast-paced style. The Panthers trailed 11–7 after the first quarter and 34–21 at halftime but battled back to stay within striking distance. Tyler Frydenlund opened the third quarter with a basket and Xavier Wetzel followed with another to keep Jefferson close. A three-pointer by Cam Redfield cut the margin to 42–35, and two free throws from Logan Frydenlund made it 46–39. Jefferson trailed 53–43 heading into the fourth and pulled within 55–47. But St. Labre pulled away late for an 81–68 win, snuffing the Panthers’ State hopes.
Although the season ended short of state tournament berths, the Panthers’ youth suggests bright days ahead. The boys will lose only Tyler Frydenlund to graduation, leaving four juniors, four sophomores and five freshmen for next year’s squad, while the girls also expect a strong core of experienced players back next season.
Attention now turns to spring sports at Jefferson High School, including track and field, golf and tennis. The track season will be especially exciting as athletes compete on the newly improved Jefferson track, which now features a rubberized surface and new timing system. I can’t wait to see how they do.
GO PANTHERS.
