Panthers pick up road victory against Cowboys

RBC — The Rangely Panther boys’ varsity basketball team laid claim to the number three seed in the upcoming district tournament by virtue of a Friday night win over the Meeker Cowboys 52-43 in Meeker.
Rangely jumped out quick in the first quarter on baskets by Tim Willis and Patrick Phelan, the Cowboys answered with a three by Tyler Matrisciano and a basket by Tyrel Gerloff underneath to retake the lead 5-4 with 4:15 left in the first quarter.
The Panthers were able to gather six more points in the quarter while the Cowboys could only muster another basket as Rangely took the first period lead 10-7. Phelan and Willis continued scoring in the second as the Panthers stretched their lead to ten points on the strength of an 11-1 run. By the end of the second quarter Rangely held a 27-17 lead. Phelan led the scoring for the Panthers with nine in the period while Dakota Rowlett was gathering seven for the ‘Pokes.
In the third period, the Cowboys closed the gap a little as they outscored the Panthers 13-10 in the quarter. Meeker was again led by Rowlett with five while Rangely shared the load between Phelan and Adam Dahl with both tallying four points apiece. A three point basket by Brian Crowe for the Cowboys made the score 40-43 for the Panthers with 1:29 left in the game but that was as close as the ‘Pokes would get. Free throws in the final minute by Dahl, Phelan and Keenan Harvey put the game out of reach for the Panthers 52-43.
“We had a hard time with openings in their zone,” said Cowboy coach Klark Kindler of his team’s loss, “and we haven’t been shooting the ball well for about two weeks.” The win secured the third seed for the Panthers while the Cowboys will be seeded fourth in the upcoming tournament.
Scoring for the Panthers; P. Phelan 19, K. Brady 4, A. Dahl 6, M. Morton 5, K. Harvey 8, L. Murray 2, T. Willis 8.
Scoring for the Cowboys: Matrisciano 9, J. Nieslanik 3, B. Crowe 10, D. Rowlett 14, J. Galvan 1, T. Gerloff 6.