The Panthers bested Hayden 49-40 in a home game last Thursday. They beat DeBeque 44-33 Friday and rounded out Saturday by spoiling Soroco’s perfect 3-0 league record with a 43-34 win. | MATT SCOGGINS PHOTO
RANGELY | The Rangely Panthers boys’ basketball team scored 49 points and held the visiting Hayden Tigers to 40 in the Panthers league triumph on Thursday. Rangely’s aggressive defense led to an 8-0 run in the first three minutes. While the Tigers never led, their scrappy defense and Logan Morrison’s unrelenting presence on the boards helped them tie the game twice, once in the first quarter and again at the start of the fourth quarter. The Panthers struggled to score in the third quarter, but seniors Timothy Scoggins and Keihlin Myers combined for 15 of Rangely’s 20 points in the fourth quarter. Scoggins completed the double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds, while Myers contributed nine points, nine rebounds and five assists. Kevin Wren also pitched in 10 points. The Panthers’ JV team will play Hayden’s JV on Monday, Jan. 24 at Rangely.
On Friday the Panthers traveled to DeBeque and earned another league win with a 44-33 victory. The DeBeque Dragons were the aggressor, taking an 11-4 lead at the end of the first quarter. Rangely struggled with foul troubles but clawed back to a 16-14 deficit at the end of the half. The Panthers found their offense in the third, stringing together an 11-0 run, and followed that with another 11-4 run to cap the win.
“Scoggins was in foul trouble most of the game, but it forced us to find a way to be patient and efficient on offense–the way we came together in the second half was outstanding” stated Panthers’ coach Boydstun.
Kenyon Cochrane owned the double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Kevin Wren and Keihlin Myers pitched in 12 points and 10 points, respectively. Marstan Wagner helped dominate the boards with nine rebounds. The Panther JV squad also earned a 37-22 win at DeBeque.
The Soroco Rams entered Saturday’s match with Rangely sporting a perfect 3-0 league record. The Panthers’ defense was determined to spoil that record, and they did, outscoring the Rams 43-34. The hard earned victory started with a 15-15 tie at halftime and the makings of a barn-burner. Rangely’s frenetic defense and Scoggins’ dunk attempt with two Rams hanging on him seemed to energize the Panthers. Neither team was able to pull away to start the second half with the struggle continuing as Rangely fought for a 27-25 lead to start the fourth quarter. Two timely three-pointers from Kevin Wren and Fisher Winder, and three more two-point buckets from Winder and Kenyon Cochrane pushed the Panthers over the Rams. Wren led all scorers with 12 points, while Scoggins and Winder followed with nine and eight points respectively. Keihlin Myers finished with 10 rebounds followed by Scoggins with seven boards. “Our defense was great tonight, and Kenyon Cochrane’s effort against Soroco’s big man made the difference. Kenyon only had five boards, but his effort in boxing out led to us controlling the defensive boards and eliminating second chances for Soroco,” said coach Boydstun. Colt Allred’s JV squad also picked up another win over the Rams, winning 38-22.
The Panthers now sport a 5-5 record and are 3-2 in league play. They put it on the line next when they travel to Olathe for another 2A/1A Western Slope league contest on Saturday, Jan. 22. Games start at 1 p.m. with varsity boys’ at 4 p.m. Rangely will battle a Pirates team coming off a 55-53 overtime win over the North Fork Miners.
Special to the Herald Times
