Panther girls struggled in post-season play

The basketball post-season is a cruel time. For all teams but one, the season ends with a loss; the physics of the bracket ensure that outcome. And the question is: Will the loss come today, or some other day?

For Jefferson High’s girls basketball squad, today came sooner than expected at the Class B Southern Divisional tournament in Billings last week, as shooting dry spells and turnovers against two strong teams put a disappointing period on a successful year. The Lady Panthers are done for 2021.

It started with a first-round contest Wednesday, March 3, against Columbus. On paper, this looked like a favorable match-up for the Panthers — and the first quarter was close. After Columbus scored the first four points, Rachel Van Blaricom sank a basket, added pair of free throws, and then stole the ball and scored to make it a one-point game. Austie May tied the score at nine with an old-fashioned three.