BY MICHAEL DAVID

The Community School Cutthroats squared up with their Blaine County rivals; the Carey Panthers on Tuesday night in Shoshone in a loser-out game in the District IV Tournament. The Panthers jumped out to a quick lead and held off the Cutthroats 46-32 to advance—ending the Community School basketball season. 

Coach Payne’s Cutthroats appeared nervous early as they committed several unforced turnovers and fell behind 10-2 after the first period. The only Community School score in the opening quarter came on a layup by sophomore guard, Henry Pollock (15 points, 4 rebounds), on a beautiful feed from junior Jackson Dies (3 rebounds, 2 assists). 

Carey scored the first 4 points in the second quarter, but a Pollock layup off an assist from Keegan Whitelaw (5 points, 2 assists, 2 steals), and a three point shot by the sophomore guard  pulled the Cutthroats within 6 points, 14-8. However, Community School continued to turn the ball over to the Panthers, and Carey ended the first half on a 9-0 scoring run to lead by 17 points at the break, 25-8.

It was the Cutthroats turn to make a run in the third period. Daniel DuFur (5 points, 7 rebounds) had an offensive rebound and put back to start the quarter, and back-to-back 3 point shots by Pollock and Whitelaw cut the Panthers lead down to 10 points. The teams traded baskets for the rest of the period, but a banked three point shot by Carey at the buzzer gave the Panthers a 14-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.

The Cutthroats would get no closer the rest of the way, as Carey took the air out of the ball, slowing the game down and playing strong defense in the fourth period. Senior center Alex Feldman (5 rebounds, 3 assists) fouled out with 4:35 seconds remaining, exiting the court while receiving a rousing ovation from the Community School faithful who traveled to Shoshone to support their team. Garret Rawlings (6 points, 9 rebounds), who led the team in scoring this season, fittingly closed out the scoring for the season with a 3-point shot as the clock expired. 

The Cutthroat’s second loss of the double elimination format knocked them out of the District Tournament and they finished the season with a record of 9-11.