Tigers top Panthers in tight game

The Saratoga Panthers (0-2, 1A Southeast; 2-10 overall) lost to the Encampment Tigers (1-2 1A Southwest; 12-13 overall) Friday, but not without a putting up a tough defense. Friday the Panthers came up short, 44-51, against the Tigers.

The Panthers have struggled with at least one or two quarters per game since the season started, but Friday night they put four quarters together to give their fans a reason to cheer. Offensively, the Panthers struggled but made a rally to close the score to a 1 point difference in the final quarter.

Even though the Panthers had the home court advantage, the Tigers kept the game tied at 8 through the first quarter. The Tigers took a 21-27 halftime lead.

Tigers head coach Clint Bromley said that he didn't make any second quarterchanges. "I had one kid, Harold Jackson, who played really well." Jackson scored 12 points in the game, which is above his average.

Luke Pantle, Encampment's star player had a double double with his 25 points and 10 rebounds. "We had to have that out of (Luke) to beat (the Panthers)," Bromley said.

The Panther's head coach Joe Johnston said the team had turnover problems. "They weren't forced turnovers," Johnston said. "We also missed some easy shots."

In the third quarter, the Tigers outscored the Panthers by 5, widening their lead to 29-41.

In the fourth quarter, the Panthers scored 13 unanswered points for a 42-43 score.

Bromley credited the Panthers with their play; "I tell my guys, (Saratoga) is a good team and it is the kind of team they will face down the road," Despite the Panther's rally, the Tigers outscored the Panthers 4 to 1 in the final 45 seconds of the game.

A Panthers comeback was stopped by the Tigers defense and the Tigers pulled out a 44-51 win.

Bromley said Guy Erickson also had a good game with 10 points and nine rebounds.

Even though the coaches try not to talk up the rivalry between Saratoga and Encampment, the rivalry is there. It was most notably seen in the stands as fans from both teams nearly filled the bleachers Friday night.

LSRV game

The Panthers traveled to Baggs Saturday and lost to Little Snake River Valley (LSRV) (3-0, 1A Southwest; 10-5 overall) Rattlers 46-57. "LSRV has really good shooters and really good defense," Johnston said.

Though the Panthers lost, they were successful with some plays used the night before against the Tigers.

Johnston said the Panthers played well defensively and they are playing their best. Friday, the Panthers travel to Lusk to play the conference's second-ranked Niobrara County. Saturday, the Panthers host third-ranked Southeast. Both are conference games.

Johnston sees improvement each game but laments the players getting down on themselves when they lose. "Their effort is not lacking, they play very hard," Johnston said.

The game in Lusk begins at 4 p.m., with junior varsity play Friday and Saturday, play begins at 1 p.m., with the JV against Southeast.