Tigers become another Panther victim

The Valley saw the clash of two Carbon County rivals on January 6. Although Encampment started out strong in the beginning, it was not long before the Saratoga Panthers overwhelmed them.

Saratoga won 61 to 34.

"It was close during the 1st quarter and even some of the early 2nd quarter and then we started pulling away," Saratoga's Head Basketball Coach Jason Williams said. "We started making some 3-pointers and then we started to get further ahead.

"Half-time the score, which favored Saratoga, was 31 to 19. The Bartlett twins, Grady and Grant, had a lot to do with the fast pace of the game, Williams said. He said it was a typical game where both were playing with strong intensity. "Like they always do," Williams said. "They are the most noticed because they are constantly moving up and down the floor."

Grady Bartlett scored 18 points, Fisher Williams had 15 points, Grant Bartlett had 11 points and Finn Rosleth got 11 points. "That made me happy to have four players go into double figures," Williams said. "The teamwork of all made this possible."

The Saratoga coach recognized as the team racks up more wins, a target is on the team's back." A team not having a great season can see beating us as a redemption and so many teams are gunning to be the first team to beat us," Williams said. "We have to be ready and keep the intensity up every game."

Williams said there are some things he noticed about the team he feels needs to be adjusted. "Encampment had a few surprises for us and it took us a little while to adjust," Williams said. "We definitely saw some things we are going to have to work on, but the effort was there and as a coach, that is really all we can ask for."

The next game is against Hanna, Elk Mountain, Medicine Bow High School on January 10 is a home game.