Timber Lake’s near-perfect execution of the half-court trap defense resulted in a half-dozen Lemmon turnovers in the first quarter of their matchup last Friday, Dec. 10, allowing the Panthers to build a 20-4 advantage the Cowboys were never able to overcome.
Timber Lake went on to claim a 61-49 victory in the season opener for both clubs. The 1-0 Panthers traveled to Herreid-Selby on Tuesday, Dec. 14, and will be in Harding County on Thursday, Dec. 16, before taking on Strasburg/Zeeland, ND, at 4 p.m. CST on Saturday, Dec. 18, at the Mobridge Rotary Classic.
Senior forward Dixon Booth led Timber Lake’s first quarter run with three steals and eight points while the Panther defense smothered the Cowboys. Leading scorer Tell Mollman hit his first basket 1:06 into the game and Lemmon would not net another shot until Mollman drained an 8-foot turn-around jumper with just 29 seconds left in the quarter.
The Cowboys were able to pull within 34-21 by the half, but Timber Lake’s defense kept the pressure on, holding Lemmon to just eight points in the third quarter - six of them courtesy of Mollman -to control 46-28 heading into the final stanza. Guard Tanner Miller exploded for 11 points in the fourth quarter to give Lemmon hope but the Panthers drained 10-of-13 free throw attempts down the stretch to seal the victory.
Timber Lake, as a team, shot exceptionally well at the free throw line, converting 15-of-18 attempts. The Cowboys went 8-for-18 at the charity stripe and finished with more than a dozen turnovers.
Chazz Gabe and Hank Kraft led the Panthers with 18 points each while Booth finished with 12 on the night. Kedrick Martin and Tristan Dupris pitched in four points apiece, Brandt Ducheneaux scored three, and Gracen Hansen had two points.
Mollman led Lemmon and all scorers with 19 points while Miller finished with 15 points and Talon Trogstad had 11.
Timber Lake converted 15-of-18 free throw attempts