Roundup Boys Basketball

Last Thursday was senior night for the Roundup Panthers. It was our time to say thank you to the seniors for four years of hard work and to their parents for supporting them in every step of the way. It is always a difficult night as emotions are high and anxiety is amped up for their last performance in their home gym. A quick start in a game is always good to settle the nerves. Unfortunately, the Panthers did the exact opposite as they struggled to make baskets and ran into some early foul trouble. On the third possession of the game Dylan hit a bucket and made a free throw. MaKale hit a free throw later in the quarter and that was the extent of the Panther offense. Fortunately, the Panther defense was a bit better only allowing the Dogies to score ten points in the first quarter for a six point deficit. The second quarter was almost a wash as the Panther bench came in and provided a bit of a spark but the Dogies matched the Panthers in the quarter and led 24-16. In the third quarter the poor shooting continued for the Panthers as they didn't score until the 3:00 mark in the quarter. The Dogies weren't a lot better but extended their lead to 31-16 at that point. Jace, Michael, and Kaide scored baskets in the final three minutes to cut into the deficit and giving the Panthers a chance. Makale really got rolling in the fourth quarter scoring all 11 of his points in the quarter. The Panthers slowly fought their way back into the game and the Panther roar got louder and louder. With 5.7 seconds left in the game Tanner made two free throws to give the Panthers their first lead at 46-44. Forsyth inbounded the ball and made a cross court pass that Makale got a hand on but it deflected off of a Forsyth players shoulder and went directly to different Dogie. He picked it up, heaved it at the basket, and it went in as the buzzer went off to stun the Panthers 47-46.

Scoring was as follows: Jace Lemmel 2, Tanner Rae 7, Michael McHenry 8, Dylan Sanner 9, Kaide Griffith 9, and MaKale Kembel 11.

Friday the Panthers traveled to Joliet to challenge the J-Hawks on their senior night. Unlike the Panthers the night before the J-Hawks came out on fire. It seemed like they never missed and if they did they crashed the glass and got an offensive rebound put back. The Panthers were defending fairly well but it was all for not as Joliet shot the ball very well as they surged ahead 21-8. The second quarter started and it wasn't much better for the Panthers as the J-Hawk shots kept dropping but the Panthers found their shooting touch and began to close the gap. Kaide and MaKale knocked down some deep threes. Tanner, Ryder, Colton, and Dylan scored some buckets around the basket and made some free throws and the Panthers cut it to 7 points just before the half when Tanner hit a deep three point shot, almost half court, to cut the lead to 37-33 and give the Panthers some momentum going into halftime. The third quarter was back and forth as the Panthers continued to press, claw, and make shots to get ahead. The J-Hawks continued to hold them at bay but the Panthers cut it to 49-48 at the end of three. Kaide hit a big three early in the fourth quarter and after that it was the Dylan and Tanner show. Both Panthers attacked the basket relentlessly making shots or getting fouled. Between Tanner and Dylan they were 10/10 in the quarter as the Panthers pulled off an unlikely victory, 70-62.

Scoring was as follows: Colton Kinn 1, Jace Lemmel 2, Ryder Klein 3, MaKale Kembel 8, Kaide Griffith 15, Dylan Sanner 15, and Tanner Rae 26.