Sue Sitter/PCT Panthers forward Erik Foster gets some air for a shot against the MLS Mavericks in Rugby High’s Hanneman Gym Dec. 21.

The Rugby Panthers earned a 43-31 win with a hardworking defense against the undefeated Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood Mavericks on their home basketball court at Rugby High Dec. 21.

The boys’ varsity game was the second of a double-header against MLS. The Lady Panthers defeated MLS girls’ varsity squad before the boys took the court.

Panthers Head Coach Mike Santjer said the team not only worked hard, but also used smart strategies to gain the upper hand in the game, which saw the Mavericks lead 11-7 in the first quarter.

The Mavericks’ defense held back all but Panthers forward Erik Foster during the game’s first eight minutes. Foster landed one three-pointer away from a crowd of Mavericks, then managed one rebound and another bucket for four more.

After a brief talk from Santjer between quarters, the Panthers defenders went to work. Shots landed for guard Jacob Ripplinger and forward Lathan DeMontigny. Forward Brody Schneibel landed a bucket and made a trip to the free-throw line on a foul by Mavericks guard Steele Olson. Guard Kory Vetsch made two free throws on a foul by Mavericks guard Riley Morlock.

The Panthers’ defense, on the other hand, kept the Mavericks from scoring any points in q2. The half ended with an 18-11 Panthers lead.

“We played aggressively, but we played smart. We didn’t allow the clock to stop and we didn’t put them on the free-throw line, either,” Santjer said of the Panthers’ defense.

The third quarter saw both teams turn up their aggression. Players picked up their pace on the court. The ball changed hands constantly with steals and turnovers. Foster landed another three-point shot, while Schneibel made two layups. However, the Panthers allowed Mavericks Gannon Hall and Joe Savelkoul trips to the free throw line. Savelkoul and forward Jacob Undlin landed three-pointers for the Mavericks. The Mavericks would total 15 points to the Panthers’ 11 for the quarter. Still, the Panthers kept a 29-26 lead, thanks in part to a buzzer-beating bucket shot by Rugby guard Logan Harner.

After another brief talk with Santjer, the Panthers began the final eight minutes of the game, determined to finish with a win.

Harner, Vetsch and other Panthers point guards kept the Mavericks at bay. Harner made two layup shots and one trip to the free throw line after a foul from Morlock. Mavericks surrounded Foster, determined to pressure him away from shot opportunities, but Foster worked around them, landing two buckets. After two Mavericks fouls, Foster put four more points from free throws on the board.

Foster and the Panthers stayed out of foul trouble, for the most part. One foul on the Mavericks’ Olson gave him a free throw shot, but Olson failed to land the ball through the hoop. He was able to stay out of traffic, however, and land a three-pointer for MLS in the final minutes of the game. Undlin landed a two-pointer, the only other shot in the quarter to make points for the Mavericks.

“The nice thing is all our kids come out on the court and work hard and I think our bench is a little deeper than most teams this year so we can get up and come out in that third quarter and make some things happen,” Santjer said of the game. Santjer noted he gave his players time off the bench, rotating in a few throughout the game to find the right mix.

“Hopefully, that’s our team makeup a little bit. Next man up, let’s go, let’s work hard and see if we can make something happen,” Santjer said.

Overall, Santjer said the Panthers’ strategy against the Mavericks “was good. It was a real smart effort on our part.”

Santjer said the win gave the young Panthers something to build on. “It’s good that these guys come in every day and work this hard. We’re going to keep building. Tonight was better than last week. Hopefully, if that trend keeps going, we’ll be where we want to be. I hope we’re still climbing that hill and getting better until tournament time. “

Santjer said the Panthers would travel to the Minot State Dome Dec. 28 to take on the Beulah Miners.

“Beulah has been to the state tournament probably five out of the last six years,” Santjer said. “They’re a really good team. They have some veteran leaders on their team. It’ll be a tough matchup for us, for sure. We’ll have to be ready for them and ready to play.”