Over the years, the rivalry of Jefferson High and Whitehall has produced many taut, closely fought sports contests.
But not on Saturday night.
Before a very happy “Pack the House Night” crowd, the Panthers dismantled both Trojan basketball squads — the boys taking a much-needed 63-39 conference win before the girls cruised to their 14th straight victory, 75-27.
For the boys, it was Colt Tietje burning the nets: He hit eight 3-pointers, tying the school record for most in a game; his name will join Brian Bullock’s and Nolan Sonsteng’s on the all-time list.
But it was a complete game for the Panthers. They jumped out to a 17-6 lead at the end of one quarter, and built their bulge to 37-19 at the half. Tietje started the third with a three, Marcus Lee followed with another, and Tietje added a third to put the game out of reach. Parker Wagner joined the 3-point club, and it was 51-30 with 8 minutes to play. The bench took over as the Panthers coasted to the win. Tietje led the scoring with 29 points, while Kael Hesford had 11 and Dalton Noble 10.
As for the Lady Panthers, undefeated in conference play, there was never any doubt against the Trojans. Jefferson jumped out to a 12-0 lead with MacKenzie Layng, Jaida Jurenka and Hannah Stevens providing the firepower; by the half, the Panthers were up 49-14.
Arena Faler started the third with an old-fashioned 3-pointer and the younger Panthers saw lots of playing time, building the lead to 62-25 with 8 minutes to play. Ryian Eveland started the scoring in the fourth, Cameron Toney made a free throw, Jurenka swished a three and the Panthers nailed down the win. Layng led the way with 21 points, while Toney had 12, and Jurenka and Brooklyn Miller 10 each.
Two days earlier, the Panthers had traveled to Ennis, where the girls found a tough opponent. Ennis put the first points on the board, Faler tied it at 2, and Layng hit a three. Then Toney stole the ball and scored, and the Panthers went on a run, with buckets by Miller, Layng and Hannah Stevens making it 21-5. Jefferson closed out the first with a 23-7 lead.
Ryian Eveland started the second with a basket, Miller hit a three and the Panthers built a 35-20 lead at the half. Both schools played tough in the third, but the Panthers ended the period up 18, 54-36. From there, the Panther subs closed out the 73-64 win. Layng had 22 points in this one, and Toney 16.
The Panther boys played another strong game, taking a 74-45 win. Noble started the scoring with a pair of free throws, then added a block and a 2-point basket. Marcus Lee made it 6-0, and Kael Hesford converted a rare 4-point play, sinking a three and then a foul shot for a 14-4 lead. A basket by Lee and a long three by Hesford started a run to give the Panthers a big 26-4 lead at the end of one.
Hesford started the second with a three, and Noble dominated the boards as the Panthers took a 42-22 lead at the half. Back-to-back three pointers by Wagner and Kellen Meredith, and then another long three by Wagner, made it 69-33, and the Panthers were on their way. Caleb Morris connected on a late three, and the Panthers took the win, 74-45. Noble scored 22, Hesford 13, and Meredith 9.
This is the last week of the regular season. The Panthers took on White Sulphur Springs on Feb. 5, with the boys cruising 66-30 and the girls winning 76-34. They play at Townsend on Thursday, Feb. 8, then host Manhattan Christian on Saturday, Feb. 9. The District tournament is Feb. 15-17 at Manhattan Christian, with the top three teams advancing to the divisional tourney in Billings.
