The Jefferson High Lady Panthers hit a wall at the Class B state basketball championship in Missoula last weekend — and her name was Spencer Laird.
Laird, a 6’2” sophomore forward who reportedly has multiple Division 1 college scholarship offers already, can handle the ball, score inside and from the perimeter, and rebound with authority. And in the Panthers’ first-round match-up Mar. 13 with Loyola Sacred Heart, she was tough to stop.
Jefferson fell to Loyola, 62-38, as Laird racked up 26 points. The next day, in the consolation bracket, the Panthers lost to Malta, another strong team, 51-33, ending their tournament and, with it, a very successful season.
In Thursday’s game against Loyola, the top team in the Western Division, the Panthers were hamstrung by a shaky first half. After the Breakers went up, 3-0, Ryian Eveland hit a two and Michaela Morris came up with a nice block and then followed with a basket. Eveland scored again — but then Loyola ran off the next 5 points to make it 12-6.
After a Loyola three, Coach Clint Layng called a time-out, but that didn’t stop the Breakers’ momentum. They were up 23-12 after the first period, then extended the lead to 30-12 before Jefferon could answer. Finally, Cameron Toney hit a long three, but most of the Panthers’ shots just weren’t falling. Meanwhile, Toney and Eveland were both collecting fouls trying to defend Laird and her sister, 6-foot 8th-grader Emme, inside. Eveland would eventually foul out.
At the half, Loyola held a 37-18 lead. The Panthers made a stronger showing after that. Jaida Jurenka came up with a steal and made a sweet pass to Ryian Eveland for a basket — but the Breakers pushed their advantage to 46-25 after three. A couple of fourth-quarter buckets by Toney and one by Brooklyn Miller couldn’t change the outcome, and the Panthers were sent to the consolation bracket. Toney led Jefferson with 16 points, while Eveland had 8, Miller 4, and Morris and Josie Oxarart 3 each.
Friday’s game against Malta seemed like deja vu, and the Lady Panthers once more found themselves in the hole early. The M-ettes ran off the first 9 points before Parker Layng hit a three and Toney followed with a two. Layng and Meredith Rieder each sank a free throw, but Jefferson was down, 13-8, after one.
The second quarter was worse: Somebody put a lid over the Panther hoop, and the only points they managed were a pair of free throws by Eveland. Malta outscored Jefferson 21-2 in the period, making it 34-10 at the half.
The Panthers found their shot in the third, with Brianna Layng sinking a 3-pointer, and they actually outscored the M-ettes 14-8 in the period. But they were still down, 42-24, and an even fourth period wasn’t enough. Final: 51-33, Malta. Toney led the Panthers again with 11 points and 8 rebounds. Brianna and Parker Layng each scored 6, Eveland 4, Jurenka and Oxarart 2, and Morris and Rieder 1.
Loyola ultimately beat Malta, 66-47, Saturday for third place. In the championship game, Huntley Project defeated Baker, 65-50. And in the Class B boys’ tournament, highly favored Loyola Sacred Heart walloped Lodge Grass, 91-57, for its third straight title. Jefferson’s conference rival Three Forks, beat Malta for 3rd place.
The Lady Panthers finished their season with a 21-6 record, a conference championship and a third-place finish in the Southern Divisional. With everyone but Toney and senior Erica Shields returning, we’re looking forward to another strong campaign in 2025-26.
And now, it’s time for spring sports! Practices have begun for track and field, tennis and golf. The track and tennis teams will begin competition on Mar. 29, while golf is scheduled to swing into action Apr. 1. Hopefully, the Montana spring weather will cooperate.