Powerful Lady Panthers take third at districts
The Park City Lady Panthers fought through four games at the District 6C tournament last week to claim a third place finish and advance to divisionals.
Senior MacKenzie Verke tallied 63 points for the tournament and senior Shelby Branstetter recorded 46. Eighteen of Verke’s points came in the third place game against Plenty Coups.
The Panthers began last Wednesday by dismantling the Bridger Scouts 58-23. Verke led with 16 points followed by Branstetter’s 11.
Thursday’s game was a hard-fought loss to Broadview-Lavina that fell to the Pirates 56-51. The teams had split during the regular season, with each winning one game by the same margin of 4 points.
The Panthers got on the board first with 5 from Shelby Kluth and a steal and bucket from Branstetter, putting the Panthers up by 7 before the Pirates took a time-out. The Pirates settled into the game after that and hit a 3 followed by 2 points before the Panthers could get back on the board.
Branstetter started to bring the heat but the Pirates continued to dominate, finishing the first half up by 6.
Both teams came out playing good defense in the second half and Branstetter continued to rack up the points, but it wasn’t enough to pull the Panthers any closer than 5. Branstetter totaled 21 points followed by Verke with 14.
The next game was a loser-out contest against the Absarokee Huskies. The teams were tied at the half and the third quarter proved to be the turning point for the Panthers. Drives to the hoop from Verke combined with rebounding from her teammates allowed the Panthers to outscore the Huskies 20-1. Verke recorded 15 points followed by Branstetter’s 7. With a final score of 46-30.
The Panthers then faced Plenty Coups Saturday for third place — coming away with the win, 54-44. Verke had 18 points.
The Warriors scored the first 5 points but they were soon answered with a 3-pointer and another shot by Tehya Ray. Shelby McMillen, Verke and Ray continued to attack the basket, putting the Panthers up by 5 going into half. The third quarter was a wash with each team scoring 10.
The Panthers came out hungry in the fourth guarter. A basket by Branstetter followed by a steal by Ray which lead to a lay-up for MacKinzie Verke set the tone for the remainder of the game.
The squad faces Wibaux Lady Longhorns Thursday night at 8 p.m. at the Southern C Divisional tournament at the Laurel High School.
6C District Tournament at Huntley Project High School
GIRLS
WEDNESDAY
Park City 58, Bridger 23
Park City 15 24 11 8 —58
Bridger 6 10 1 6 —23
Park City: MacKinzie Verke 16, Shelby Branstetter 11, Bethany Van Doren 4, Blakely Verke 7, Kasidy Robbins 3, Shelby Kluth 4, Tehya Ray 3, Brittany Frank 4, Haley Harper 2, Alyx Grabowska 2, Shelby McMillen 2.
Bridger: Shalee Cummings 13, Desiree Jones 4, Kate Aisenbrey 4, Serena Oyler 2,
THURSDAY
Broadview-Lavina 56, Park City 51
Park City 14 9 8 20 — 51
B-L 11 18 12 15 — 56
Park City: Van Doren 2, Verke 14, Kluth 5, Ray 6, Branstetter 21, McMillen 3.
Broadview-Lavina: Emily McKeever 3, Krista Schott 22, Chloe Hanser 5, Kylie Schott 12, Hope Opie 4, Isabelle Erickson 10.
FRIDAY
Park City 46, Absarokee 30
Park City 13 5 20 8 — 46
Absarokee 7 11 1 11 — 30
Park City: Van Doren 1, Verke 15, Kasidy Robbins 2, Kluth 9, Ray 8, Branstetter 7, McMillen 4.
Absarokee: Sydney Copeland 4, Kaiya Holmquist 2, Hana Kelly 2, Emma LaMoure 2, Rebecka Lester 7, Makensi McCally 2, Katrina Feddes 11.
SATURDAY
Park City 54, Plenty Coups 44, third place
Park City 13 13 10 18 —54
Plenty Coups 12 9 10 13 —44
Park City: Bethany Van Doren 3, Blakely Verke 3, Mackinzie Verke 18, Shelby Kluth 8, Tehya Ray 11, Shelby Branstetter 7, Shelby McMillen 4.
Plenty Coups: Sephra Covers Up 3, Aaliya Stewart 8, Kara Yarlott 4, Dana Spotted Bear 2, Kim Briggs 9, Mykal Goes Ahead 8, Chamique Not Afraid 3, Sylvie Stewart 4, Anonda Goes Ahead 3.