The Cokeville Lady Panthers basketball team earned second place at the 1A state basketball tournament in Casper last weekend. The Cokeville girls fell to Little Snake River in the 1A state championship game on Saturday, with a score of 32–23. (GAZETTE PHOTO / Jan Moody)

The Lady Panthers started their quest for the 1A State basketball championship on Thursday, March 1, at the Casper Events Center against the Lady Vikings of Guernsey-Sunrise.

The Lady Panthers defeated the Lady Vikings 56–26. Kamille Nate led the scoring for Cokeville with 13 points. Freshman Rylee Teichert had seven points for the Lady Panthers in only five minutes of play. Emma Tonga and Lexia Brown each had four rebounds. Emma and Janetta Teichert had three steals each.

This win advanced the Lady Panthers to the semifinal game on Friday, March 2, at Casper College, against a very strong Lady Eagles team from St. Stephens. The Lady Panthers defeated the Lady Eagles in a hard fought battle 66–52. Kamille Nate had 18 points, Katelyn Petersen had 15 points and Kassidy King had 11 points. Nate also had seven rebounds, and Emma Teichert had six rebounds. Janetta Teichert had six steals. With this win, the Lady Panthers headed to the 1A State Championship game at the Casper Events Center on Saturday, March 3. The Lady Panthers had to face the Lady Rattlers of Snake River, a team they beat at the Regional Tournament with a buzzer beater shot.

The Lady Panthers put up a fight, but it was the fourth quarter that sealed their fate as they went scoreless to the Lady Rattlers’ eight points. The final score was 32–23 in favor of the Lady Rattlers, leaving the Cokeville Lady Panthers in second place. The Lady Panthers had a great cheering section with cheerleaders, pep club, family and friends.

Cokeville fans cheer on the Lady Panthers basketball team at the state championship game against Little Snake River. (GAZETTE PHOTO / Jan Moody)