Four Lady Panthers named to All-Conference List

The Saco-Whitewater Panthers had a tremendous basketball season that ended with the team placing second in the state at the 2015 State C Tournament a couple of weeks ago in Missoula.

Though all Lady Panthers were contributors to the team, four stood out and received 3-C All-Conference Honors.

Seniors Larimie Scheffelmear, Kourtney Simonson and Keira Simonson along with junior Tatum Moore were the recipients of the honors.

All four Lady Panthers also made the All-conference team in the 2013-2014 season as well.

Scheffelmear, Kourtney Simonson and Moore also were named to the All-Defensive team.

Moore and Kourtney Simonson were selected as defensive standouts last season as well.

Coach Amber Erickson had some nice words to share about her upperclassmen in the team’s closing meeting a couple of weeks ago after the state tournament.

Larimie Scheffelmear was only with the Lady Panthers for the last two seasons after transferring from Malta, but the athletic post player has been a fixture in Coach Erickson’s system.

“Beast Mode,” Coach Erickson said of Scheffelmear. “Always so tough on the boards. It doesn’t seem to phase her no matter how many times she gets hammered down low, she just keeps going.”

Kourtney Simonson had a tremendous high school career as a Lady Panther.

“She was our workhorse,” Coach Erickson said. “She made some amazing weakside boxouts all weekends and ran the floor hard every time.”

Keira Simonson played much bigger than most athletes taller than her. Listed at 5’6” Keira fought hard underneath all season for second and third shot attempts.

She was also a clutch shooter from behind the charity stripe and three point line.

“Keira was our silent/calm leader,” Coach Erickson said. “She always stepped up when we needed it most. So smart. She wasn’t going to be denied in our win over Belt or a trip to the State Championship.”

Often referred to as a spark plug since her freshman year, the team’s point guard Moore has been a key contributor to the Panthers year after year.

Though she has been a statistical leader, she will be the team’s lone senior next year which may stretch her next season.

“Leadership falls on your hands now,” Coach Erickson told Moore. “You’ve been shown what it takes. Lead those younger girls into another incredible season.”

Though senior twins Kaycee and Kayla Howard didn’t earn All-Conference accolades they were a significant part of the Lady Panther’s 2014-15 campaign.

“Kaycee didn’t always get to play the role she wanted this season, but stayed strong, kept pushing her teammates,” Coach Erickson said.

Her sister Kayla was the team’s fifth starter and she did an admirable job making more than a handful of plays in the Class C State Tourney.

“Kayla came great distances in all areas this season,” Coach Erickson said. “One of her shining moments at state included a beautiful baseline jumper in the Belt game.”

Coach Erickson ended her talk by saying how proud of her team she was.