Class C Boys Basketball: Panthers blow out the Coyotes in Dodson; Dodson and Saco fall next night

The Saco-Whitewater Panthers did not take it easy on the much younger Dodson Coyotes, defeating the team 72-26 in Dodson's season/ home opener.

Chance Love led the team with 15 points.

Trace Simonson had 14 points. Justin Funk had 13 points. Layne Engel had 11 points. Christian Menge had six points. Jeret Warren added five, Both Colter Lammerding and Chris DePuydt had three.

Josh Salveson scored two points, making the first shot of his career.

Salveson told the PCN the game was a lot of fun, but his most memorable moment was definitely his first shot.

Last year in seventh grade, Salveson was a team manager, and he had a look in his eye.

That look that said, put me in the game coach!

This year he is excited to be a part of the team.

"It feels very good (to be a Panther)," Salveson said. "I've played most of the kids older than me in junior high, before the season."

Salveson knows there are some things he needs to do to improve.

"I need to work on shooting, dribble better and work on my defense," Salveson said.

Dodson was led by Gavin Fox who had eight points.

Tyrese Messerly, David Jaynes, Trevor Banyai and Jasper Doney each had four points each. Lane Walling added two.

"I think we played good," Justin Funk said. "There were some things we could've done better but everybody got in the books, so that's a huge win for us."

The team has won their first district win of the year.

"Every district game is important, it helps us with seeding in the tournament," Funk said. "We might make it further if we get a better seed."

Though they won the game with a commanding lead, Funk knows there are some things the team can do to improve.

"We had a few turnovers that we just didn't need to have but it's a win and we will take it."

The Panthers are a noticeably different team this season and it shows as the team almost has tied it's win record last year.

"It is a team this year," Funk said. "It's not a group of individuals, it's a team and that's what's winning games for us this year."

He went on to say it's not just the talents of one or two players but it's the team coming together.

"We played in the Malta tournament last summer and we've had a lot of open gym in the fall," Funk said, noting those events brought the team closer as a whole.

COYOTES

The Coyotes had a rough outing against the Scobey Opheim Spartans on Saturday, losing the game 58-18.

Eighth grader Tyrese Messerly led the team, scoring nine points.

Gavin Fox added seven.

Jasper Doney had two.

After Christmas break the team will take on Turner on Friday January 2, in Turner at 7:30 P.M.

They will then face Nashua in Dodson on Saturday January 3.

PANTHERS

The Panthers dropped a game to the three point happy Frazer Bearcubs, who hit 10 treys that night. The final score was 69-45.

Saco-Whitewater was led by Jeret Warren, who scored 12.

Chance Love and Trace Simonson both scored seven points each.

Layne Engel and Chris DePuydt added five a piece.

Colter Lammerding added four points.

Justin Funk added three and Christian Menge added two.