Panthers defeat Plateau Valley, DeBeque

RANGELY I The Panthers boys’ basketball team won two games last weekend, defeating the Plateau Valley Cowboys 43-34, then pounding DeBeque 61-32 at home Saturday last. The Panthers will play in Hayden this Friday and host the Soroco Rams this Saturday afternoon.
“We played a Plateau Valley team that has been playing a lot better lately,” head coach Eric Hejl said.
The Panthers jumped out to a 12-8 lead after the first quarter and led 19-16 at halftime.
“We talk a lot about the first two minutes of the third quarter being the most important part of the game and thankfully we were able to get three quick steals for lay ups and get a double digit lead early in the third,” Hejl said. “Our defense was creating our offense and we were able to hold them to just two points in the third quarter.”
Andrew Morton led the Panthers with 10 points, Cameron Enterline finished with eight, Cory Evans, Chas Byerly, Connor Phelan and Colt Allred all scored six points each and Luis Contreras finished with two.
“Andrew was having one of his best games of the year until he jumped head first into a defender’s mouth and got a cut that would need four stitches,” Hejl said.
Against the DeBeque Dragons, the starters put up 16 points and held the Dragons to two in the third quarter and the JV players took over from there.
“This game was a good chance to get all 12 guys some court time,” Hejl said. “The JV team is on a five-game winning streak and those guys played well in this game too. Eleven of our 12 guys were able to score and the lone man who didn’t score, Layne Mecham, led the team in rebounds instead.”
“I feel like our best basketball is ahead of us,” Hejl said. “This weekend will be a great barometer of where we stand and show us a lot about what kind of team we have.”