Panthers keep tearing up opponents

The Saratoga High School Panther basketball team kept its winning ways and remains the only undefeated boys basketball team in the state.

The first game the Panthers played was against the Southeast Cyclones in Laramie at the University of Wyoming's basketball arena on Friday.

It was the Cyclones who got blown out by the Panthers 60 to 35. The Panthers were in control of the game from the beginning, leading Southeast 15 to 4 the first quarter and by halftime it was 32 to 14. 

"We came out and started pretty hot in that game," Williams said. "That was a team that had been struggling to get in some practices in the past 10 days before we played them, so they were probably not at their best."

Southeast is a team known for using its press to win games. 

"We knew they were going to try to rely on their press, but we felt that we had the guards that it wouldn't really bother us and force them to score points in their half court offense," Williams said. "And the boys executed this game plan really well and it really paid off for us."

Williams said the game against the Cyclones was a real team effort.

"We had four guys in double figures," Williams said. "It really was a good team effort. They shared the ball well and that is probably the key to our success this year, as we got a bunch of guys that are unselfish and they don't care who scores the points, as long as somebody does."

That was not the problem in either game.

A player who has been improving and getting confidence by all accounts is Finn Rosleth.

"Finn broke his collarbone in football and we didn't play him much until after Christmas," Williams said. "He has been a good contributor to the team since then."

Saratoga has a lot of contributors to their winning season.

Little Snake River Valley (LSRV) found that out on Saturday. 

In their prior meeting a couple weeks back, LSRV only lost by a point. That was not the case this time around. The Panthers beat the Rattlers 56 to 40.

"We were able to get a lead in the 1st half that was sizable and then hang on the 2nd half," Williams said. "I didn't think we played all that well in the 2nd half, but thank goodness we did have that strong 1st half."

Williams is happy with how the Panthers game has evolved over the season, especially with defense.

"The past two or three weeks, our defense has been getting stronger and that is what is propelling us these past weeks," Williams said. "Obviously this makes it harder on the other team, but it also helps our offense get started as well."

Williams pointed out that although he had three to four players scoring in double figures in both games, none got over 15 points.

"When several players score in double figures, it makes it hard for an opposing team to focus on one guy," Williams said. "Our scoring is balanced."

The Panthers will travel to Farson-Eden and Cokeville this weekend.

"Those will be huge games for us because they are both in our conference," Williams said. "We are tied with Cokeville for the number one seed, so that game could very well come down to who is going to win the conference."