Lady Tigers control perimeter, game

The Encampment Lady Tigers (7-1) nearly shut out the Saratoga Lady Panthers (3-2) in the first quarter of the game Friday night. With less than a minute left in the first quarter, the Lady Panthers scored their first two points.

The Lady Tigers continued to outplay the Lady Panthers in the second quarter, but not without the Lady Panthers getting the first score in the second quarter.

The Panthers scored a 3-pointer early in the second quarter, making it a 10-point game before the Tigers had a 7-point run, followed by a 6-point run. Half-time ended with the Tigers ahead 26-12.

The Panthers played their best quarters in the second and third gaining 10 and 9 points respectively, but it was not enough to compete against the hungry Tigers.

The Tigers continued the pattern of scoring 6 points to Saratoga's 2 points throughout the second half winning the game 47-23.

"The girls came out strong and ready to play," Encampment's head coach Amy Clay said. The rivalry between Saratoga and Encampment kept the girls focused. They played a great offense and defense, Clay said.

From the Panther's point of view, the girls were disappointed with the loss. "You play a school that close to you and you know all the kids. Their heads are down," Saratoga's head coach Scott Bokelman said.

Bokelman thought his girls played really well ... "it wasn't for lack of effort."

We had a few changes where we gave them five shots in a row and you just can't do that," Bokelman said of the Panther's defense.

Bokelman noted that the team needs to improve their offensive rebounds to make up for inexperienced shooting from the perimeter. On a positive note, Bokelman pointed out the Panthers stronger play in the second half.

"I thought our kids kept fighting. I said 'we have to use this game to get better,'" Bokelman said.

The Panthers will be working on ball handling, passing and shooting before the Burns game. He is also working with the girls on a balance of patience and squaring up before shooting.

With Burns losing a number of seniors last year, Bokelman has not had a chance to give the Broncs a good look this season. He will be focusing on that in preparation for this week.

Lady Tiger Alyssa Barkhurst had an impressive game scoring 90 percent of her bucket attempts. She scored 20 points and had nine rebounds.

Paige Powell had 8 points with 11 rebounds, following by Hailey Barkhurst and Miciah Pantle each scoring 6 points. Konnar Knotwell scored 4 points and had three rebounds. McKenzie Powell scored 2 points and had one rebound, while Cassidy Little scored 1 point and grabbed six rebounds.

Meredith Lincoln was the high scorer for Saratoga scoring 13 points. She also had five rebounds. Cruz Escobedo and Shaelee Hamann each had 4 points and two rebounds. Katie Loose led the team in rebounds with six. She added 2 points to the scoreboard.

The Saratoga Lady Panthers host Burns on Friday with tip off at 5 p.m. Saturday, the Panthers travel to Pine Bluffs at noon, starting with J.V., varsity girls tip off at 1:30, with boys playing at 3 p.m.