Jefferson High’s basketball squads opened their 2024-25 season at a big tournament in Three Forks last weekend. The Panther boys swept Shepherd and Class C Drummond, while the girls split their games.
The Lady Panthers are very young and hit some rough spots in Friday’s opening contest. Both teams struggled to score in the early going, and the first quarter ended at 9-all. Shepherd found the range in the second and took a 23-14 lead at the half. The Panthers finally started hitting in the third quarter with Ryian Eveland, Cameron Toney and Jaida Jurenka scoring. KK Morris hit a three to pull the Panthers to 33-24, and Toney added another to make it 33-29. But that was as close as it would get, with Shepherd pulling away for a 51-33 win.
In the boys’ game, Jed Williams hit back-to-back baskets to put the Panthers up 11-4 early, and a three pointer by newcomer Wyatt Geler made it 17-6. At the end of one, it was 21-16, Jefferson. A three-pointer by Caleb Morris made it 24-16, and back-to-back threes by Tyzer Zody and Kellen Meredith put the Panthers up 38-28 on their way to a 40-32 halftime lead.
In the third, Hunter Stevens made it 50-39 but Shepherd came back to pull to 56-50 at the end of the period. Shepherd started the fourth with a three to pull within a basket, but from then on the Panthers took over. After blocking a shot, Geier sank a three to make it 63-55, and the Panthers cruised from there to a 79-63 win.
On Saturday, the Lady Panthers overpowered Drummond. Toney and Brooklyn Miller had sticky fingers, stealing the ball several times to feed buckets. A three by Parker Layng gave the Panthers a 16-6 lead, then hit two more in the second period to put the Panthers up 28-10. Eveland stole the ball and scored to make it 34-12, and Morris and Layng closed out the third with threes for a 43-15 lead. Jaida Jurenka hit another three as the Panthers won, 56-22.
The Panther boys also had an easy time, starting with an 11-0 run. Meredith hit a basket, and Geier followed with a two, a pair of free throws, a three and another free throw. By the end of the period, the Panthers were up 17-6. They went on a 20-11 run in the second to take a 37-17 lead at the half. Jefferson didn’t let up from there, building the margin to 51-27 at the end of three. And Caleb Morris’ three capped a 63-40 victory.
Now, the Panthers are ready to start their conference season. The teams were scheduled to travel to Three Forks on Tuesday, Dec. 17, then face Manhattan on Friday. A great start to the year. Go Panthers!
