Fourman, Young come up big in losses

The Lady Panthers traveled twice last week. First to Baggs to play Little Snake River Valley (LSRV) on Thursday, then to Burns (4-2), (12-6) for the last conference game of the season. The ladies dropped both of these matches, but more positives came from these road games than negative.

Justine Fourman was named the player of the game on Thursday in the 34-70 loss to LSRV. Fourman finished the night with 14 points and nine rebounds, a task not easily accomplished against the top ranked team in the 1A conference.

Mati Love and Taylor Smith backed the Panthers with 6 points apiece. Love also had six rebounds and Smith pulled in five.

Cruz Escobedo hit a shot from the arc and Veronica Lincoln was 75 percent from the line.

At the beginning of the conference game in Burns, the young lady singing the National Anthem froze and forgot the words to the song. The gym was silent and when most would revel in someone else’s misfortune, Amber Young picked up in the song where the other girl had lost the words. Singing alone at first, Young didn’t falter and the rest of the Panthers quickly picked up tempo and finished out the Anthem with her.

Young was the player of the game before the game ever started.

Young also shined on the floor that night with 9 points and seven rebounds.

“Young really stepped it up,” coach Love said. “She went down with an ankle injury, hopefully she will be back for our Pine Bluffs game Monday.”

Justine Fourman had another solid game with 11 points, five rebounds and four steals. Mati Love backed the Panthers scoring 7 points, pulling down seven rebounds and found two steals. Senior Taylor Smith finished the game with 6 points and 4 rebounds.

The Panthers will host their Valley rivals, Encampment on Saturday starting at 4 p.m.

The Ladies will have the “Pink Panther” game that night to promote breast cancer awareness. It is also senior night. Fans are encouraged to wear pink to the game.

The Panthers will travel on Monday to Pine Bluffs for the play-in game to determine which team moves on to regionals.