Sue Sitter/PCT Panthers guard Logan Harner breaks away from North Star Bearcat Garret Westlind on the basketball court at Cando Jan. 13.

The Rugby Panthers boys basketball ended a three-game winning streak on the court at North Star High School in Cando Jan. 13, falling to the Bearcats 51-60.

The Panthers’ energy flagged in the first half of the game, which began two hours early to give the Rugby team a chance to head home early enough to beat an oncoming snow storm.

The North Star Bearcats brought intensity to their home court starting at tip-off. Their aggression might be one factor behind their 8-1 record, with their only loss to state leader Four Winds/Minnewaukan.

The Bearcats tore into the Panthers in the first quarter, with Dane Hagler and Parker Simon each rebounding for four points. Garret Westlind and Drew Nicholas also broke through the Panthers’ defense, each sinking a bucket.

Erik Foster got things going for the Panthers’ offense, despite heavy pressure from Bearcats guards who seemed to have his number. A personal foul brought Foster to the free throw line, where he landed one of two shots. Lathan DeMontgny also maneuvered around a pack of Bearcats inside the paint to land a shot. Kory Vetsch sank a three-pointer from the outside. However, many shot opportunities for the Panthers missed their marks.

The pattern of missed shots continued in the second quarter, but the Panthers found more shot opportunities. Jacob Ripplinger landed a three-point shot. Brody Schneibel plowed through the Bearcats’ defenses to land a rebound, drawing a foul. A second trip to the free throw line minutes later netted Schneibel one point. Logan Harner landed a three-pointer before drawing another foul on a rebound shot. Harner made one of two free throws. Foster and Vetsch also penetrated the inside lane, with Foster sinking two baskets and Vetsch landing one.

The Bearcats showed they had more fight in them, however. North Star added to their 14-8 lead with 23 more points.

Panthers Coach Mike Santjer said he and assistant coaches Travis Risovi and Shane Walker “kind of challenged (the team) at halftime. We asked them, ‘What are we going to do? Are we going to just quit, or are we going to dig in?’ And these guys always choose option two. They’re always going to fight and dig in.”

Digging in had worked for the Panthers in their prior three games. The energy had brought them from a 15-point deficit to overtake the Harvey-Wells County Hornets for a 51-50 win Jan. 7. It had also brought Rugby to a decisive win over the Des Lacs-Burlington Lakers and a scrappy 69-66 win over the Westhope-Newburg Sioux.

The Panthers would add 15 more points to their score in the third quarter, with Ripplinger landing two shots from the inside and another from three-point territory. Ripplinger drew a foul and sank a free throw. Ripplinger scored 11 points in the game, more than any Panther.

Schneibel and Foster also drew fouls on buckets for trips to the free throw line. Harner managed another two-pointer from inside the paint.

The Bearcats continued to outpace the Panthers, netting 16 points including two three-pointers from Parker Simon and one from Drew Nicholas. Nicholas drew a foul, making one free throw shot. Karsen Simon also shot from the free throw line after a Panthers foul, missing both opportunities.

The Panthers grew even more aggressive in the fourth quarter, narrowing a North Star lead that had grown to 12 points to six points at times. Freshman Bryceton Deplazes came from the bench to land two shots. DeMontigny made a layup, drawing a foul and scoring two more points from free throws. Will Kuntz rounded out the scoring drive with two.

Although the Panthers led the fourth quarter in points scored 10-7, the last-minute push wasn’t enough to catch up to North Star.

“One thing I know was we didn’t make a lot of shots tonight,” Santjer said after the game. “I didn’t like our effort as much as I have in the past. This is something they bring every single night. I didn’t think they brought it tonight.”

“Whether it was the weather or the time change with the game (rescheduled), there was no excuse. Cando plays very well and I don’t think we matched their feistiness,” Santjer said. “But,” he added, “this season’s going to be a learning experience for a lot of these guys and as we get more into those district games, we’ve got to get better.”