RANGELY I The Panther boys’ basketball team ended its season with three games, winning two and finishing the season with a 6-13 record.
The Panthers defeated South Routt County (Soroco) 45-43, then beat Caprock Academy 34-22, before losing to the Little Snake Rattlers from Baggs, Wyo., 38-35.
“We treated the game against Soroco like our playoff game and came out on top,” Rangely head coach Jeremy Cantrell said.
The Panthers opened with an 8-4 lead after the first quarter and added 12 more in the second to lead by 10 at halftime. Rangely scored 18 more in the third quarter but was outscored in the final quarter 19-7, holding on for the two-point win.
“We scored off the press and made some outstanding defensive stops in the final minute,” Coach Cantrell said.
Colt Allred led the team with 19 points, Luis Contreras scored 15 and Mitchell Webber finished with six. Patrick Scoggins added four to the total and Kelton Elam made a free throw.
Against Caprock Academy, the Panthers started slow but only trailed 14-11 at halftime. The Panthers scored 12 in the third quarter to take the lead then sealed the win with 11 more in the fourth quarter.
“We did a great job of shaking off a slow start,” Cantrell said. “A string of good possessions in the third quarter was the difference. The seniors made the most of Parents Night.”
Allred led the team again with 10, Webber and Contreras each added eight, Scoggins and Elam four each and Layne Mecham made a basket.
Unfortunately, the Panthers could not keep the streak going in Wyoming, losing their final game of the season.
Against the Rattlers, the Panthers trailed by one after the first period and were down 17-13 at halftime. Rangely outscored Little Snake River 14-9 in the third but couldn’t make up the difference in the fourth.
“It was a gutsy effort on the third game in three days,” Cantrell said. “We continued to fight until the end, we just fell a little short.”
Allred scored nine, Elam seven, Webber and Contreras each finished with six, Mecham four and Scoggins scored three.
