The Roundup Panthers started their Covid season at home against Columbus Friday, January 8 and then traveled to Malta on Saturday, January 9. This year's Panther team is a very young team with a lot of promise. Young teams have to learn how to play with varsity intensity mentally and physically for 32 minutes. 2021 Panthers will be a team to be reckoned with once they get a handle of varsity action.

Friday, the Panthers got off to a rough start and spotted the Cougars a big lead. Throughout the game the Panthers had spurts where they played very well but the times of inconsistency put the Panthers in a big deficit by halftime. Our inexperienced players had a very wide eyed looked about them throughout the first half with the exception of Jace who had a very solid game. He scored 13 of his 16 in the first half with some outstanding hustle on the offensive glass. After halftime the Panthers settled down and were able to do a little better job on the defensive end but offensively struggled to consistently make shots and keep the pressure on Columbus. Kaide and Michael had solid second halves on both ends of the floor but the hot shooting Cougars were too much for the Panthers as they won, 72-37.

Scoring was as follows: Jace Lemmel 16, Kaide Griffith 11, Michael McHenry 7, Braedan Bilden 2, Kylen Wolff 1.

The Malta game was much the same as Friday with the Mustangs getting off to a hot start in the first quarter and building a big lead. Friday it took two quarters for the Panthers to muster up a response but on the road in tough conditions the Panthers bounced back in the second quarter and cut a 19 first quarter lead by Malta to 10 at one point mid quarter. Once again, Michael and Kaide provided great leadership and settled the ship with some solid decision making on the offensive end. The Panthers trailed by 16 at the half and made a couple of runs in the third quarter but just couldn't maintain a consistent offensive threat. Malta widened its lead slowly and took control of the game. Malta prevailed 67-39.

Ralph T. Corbett

Shani Browning drives past Belt defenders Friday in Winnett. The young Winnett-Grass Range squad struggled against the perennial powerhouse, losing 9-68.

Scoring was as follows: Kaide Griffith 15, Michael McHenry 12, Jace Lemmel 4, Braedan Bilden 2, Damarion Brewer 2, Kylen Wolff 2, and Elijah Fish 2.