Panthers dominate weekend action

BOYS
The Park City Panthers won both weekend games in convincing fashion, beating Roberts by 52 points and Absarokee by 16.
“First and foremost our defensive efforts this weekend were excellent,” said Panther Coach Matt Neumann. “Total credit goes to our kids who are willing to work their butts off on the defensive side of the court in practice and games.”
Three Panthers hit double-digit scoring against Roberts, led by seniors Dakota Westman with 16, Mason Moe with 14 and Grant McNeil with 10.
Against the Huskies, freshman Jaren McNeil had 13 points while Westman added 12.
Neumann said the squad has some work to do offensively, which includes getting shots to fall.
After the Christmas break the Panthers face two tough foes in Bridger and Broadview/Lavina.
GIRLS
The Park City Lady Panthers added two crushing wins last weekend.
The first came Friday night against Roberts that was played without 5-foot-11-inch senior Morgan Popp, who was out with four staples in her head from a fall earlier in the week, said Coach Jason Federico.
In the second quarter, the Panthers began to execute, topped off by a half-court shot by sophomore MacKinzie Verke.
“I really believe MacKinzie Verke’s half-court shot at the buzzer to end the first half took a ton of steam out of the Rockets,” said Federico. “The bench started counting down from five seconds and when she shot and it went in, the crowd went nuts. It was awesome.”
Once the Panthers momentum got going, it was too much for the six Roberts Rocket players, ending with a score of 65-35.
Verke led in scoring with 20 points while juniors Hailee Gregerson and Cara Grewell added 10 each.
Saturday’s game was against Absarokee, a squad that plays a 1-2-2 or a 2-3 zone. Federico said his squad slowed it down on offense and tried to hold the ball and be patient.
“Our defense and mixing multiple defense all game held them to single digit scoring in three quarters and that’s our goal night in and out,” said Federico.
Four Panthers posted solid scoring on the night, led by Gregerson with 15, sophomore Shelby Branstetter with 14, Verke with 11 and sophomore Tehya Ray with 10.

STATS
Park City 58, Roberts 6
Park City 34 13 8 3 — 58
Roberts 3 1 0 2 — 6
PC: Ty Robbie 3, Grant McNeil 4, Dylan Sitzman 4, Mason Moe 14, Dakota Westman 16, Tucker Zuhoski 2, Stutterheim 2, McNeil 10, Johnstone 3.
R: Shawn Perkins 1, Nicolis Moore 2, Ryan DeVries 1, Jess Mysse 2

Park City 41 Absarokee 25
Park City 9 8 10 14 -- 41
Absarokee 4 6 4 11 -- 25
PC: Grant McNeil 5 Dylan Sitzman 3 Mason Moe 6 Dakota Westman 12 Jaren McNeil 13 Lane Lowell 2
Abs:Isaiah Mondragon 7 Trevor Smith 3 Bryce Oderman 4 Calvin Hanson 4 Cooper Crabtree 1 Roman Zugaza 6

Park City 65, Roberts 35
Roberts
8 12 11 4 — 35
Park City
12 22 23 8 — 65
R: Savvy Weimer 7, Brittany Prinkki 19, Claire Schoening 4, Danni Nardinger 5.
PC: Mackenzie Verke 20, Grace Jacquot 7, Shelby Kluth 1, Tehya Ray 6, Hailee Gregerson 10, Shelby Branstetter 9, Mariah Ray 2, Cara Grewell 10.

Park City 63, Absarokee 33
Absarokee 8 6 13 6 — 33
Park City 19 14 19 11 — 63
A: Maisey Sheppard 7, Erin Campbell 3, Colleen Culbertson 4, Emma Chandler 7, Emma Kelly 2, Beca Lester 2, Katrina Feddes 8.
PC: Bethan Van Doren 2, Mackinzie Verke 11, Shelby Kluth 2, Tehya Ray 10, Hailee Gregerson 15, Shelby Branstetter 14, Mariah Ray 2, Cara Grewell 7.