RANGELY | The No. 4-ranked Rangely Panthers hosted No. 29 Ridgway in the first round of the Class 2A girls basketball playoffs last Friday, securing a dominant 73-20 victory.
The Panthers started strong, leading 16-5 at the end of the first quarter and extending their advantage to 38-12 at halftime. The win marked their 24th consecutive victory.
“Good, glad we’re at home,” head coach Jimmie Mergelman said. “We shoot the ball well at home, and the girls don’t have to travel eight or 10 hours.”
Mergelman credited the team’s consistency as the key to the decisive win.
“Just doing what we do—tigers don’t try and change their stripes, so we’re going to do the same thing we do every single day,” she said.
Senior Miah Wren led the Panthers in scoring with 24 points. She credited her teammates for their ball movement and teamwork.
“My teammates were passing the ball well,” Wren said. “We played together.”
With the win, Rangely advanced to the Sweet 16 and improved to 24-0 on the season. The Panthers faced No. 13 Akron the following day after Akron’s 49-24 victory over No. 20 South Park.
Despite their momentum, Rangely struggled early against Akron, falling behind 12-0. The Panthers trailed 14-8 at the end of the first quarter and 29-10 at halftime before ultimately losing 52-29, ending their perfect season.
“Things just didn’t go our way today,” Mergelman said. “They shot the ball very well, and we couldn’t buy a basket.”
Mergelman, who completed her 18th season with the Panthers, expressed pride in her team’s achievements despite the loss.
“I am very proud of this team and all they have accomplished,” she said. “They won four tournaments during the season, and finishing 24-1 is something to be proud of.”
Mergelman also reflected on the most rewarding aspects of coaching this group.
“The most rewarding part of coaching is creating a positive team culture, watching them turn into great student-athletes, and gaining confidence in themselves and their teammates,” she said.
With the season ending, the Panthers will bid farewell to seniors Emmeree Wagner, Emma Winder, Ashlynn Ducey, Miley Chism, and Miah Wren.
