Panthers learn in losses

The Saratoga Panthers hit the road this weekend as they were hosted by the Farson-Eden Pronghorns (16-4, 5-2) on Friday and the Cokeville Panthers (12-5, 3-3) on Saturday. Saratoga ended up losing both games over the weekend, but Head Coach Jason Williams was able to take away positives from those losses as the regular season approaches its end.

Saratoga vs.

Farson-Eden

“Considering that Faron had handed us our worst loss of the season a week ago, I was very happy with how the boys bounced back and played them to 7 points seven days later,” said Williams.

When the Pronghorns were hosted by Saratoga, they were able to speed away from the Panthers with a 25 point lead as they ended the game 46-71. This time, however, the Panthers kept the game close and lost by only 7 point with a final score of 51-58.

Senior Sam Schneider led the Panthers against Farson-Eden with 15 points and sophomore Teegan Love followed with 14 points. Sophomore Gavin Bartlett and junior Menphis Smith both scored 7 points against the Pronghorns while senior Greg Swanson and sophomore Noah Rimmer each scored 4 points.

“Farson plays a good defense and rebounds well and teams have to put together four solid quarters to beat them,” Williams said. “We were able to put together about three-and-a-half solid quarters, but we came out of halftime a little flat and that proved to be the difference in the game.”

Saratoga vs. Cokeville

When Cokeville was hosted by the Panthers on Jan. 19, the orange and black Panthers left with a loss as Saratoga ended the game with a 5 point lead, 83-78. This time, however, it was Saratoga that was dealt the loss as Cokeville finished the game with a 5 point lead of their own.

“The Cokeville game was a game of two halves,” said Williams. “Considering the lead we had built in the second quarter, losing that game was very, very disappointing for us. But, like any setback, it is also a great opportunity for us to learn and be better.”

The hosting Panthers defeated Saratoga with a final score of 66-71.

Schneider, again, led Saratoga with 22 points and 6 rebounds. Love scored 21 points, had 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals. Smith scored 9 points, Swanson scored 7 points and had 5 rebounds and 3 assists. Rimmer had 5 rebounds against Cokeville and Bartlett had 3 assists.

“We are taking away some very positive things from that game despite the loss and, hopefully, will use that loss as motivation over the next three weeks,” Williams said.

Following the two conference losses this weekend, Saratoga Panthers are now 10-7 for the season and 2-4 for conference. On Thursday, the Panthers will host the Encampment Tigers (17-1, 6-1) at 4:30 p.m for a rescheduled matchup and their final home game of the season. The following day, Friday, Saratoga will travel to Baggs to be hosted by the Little Snake River Valley Rattlers (8-10, 0-6) at 5:30 p.m. The two games will be the last games of the regular season.