Boys use lessons learned

On Friday, the Moorcroft Wolves boys basketball team hosted the Big Horn Rams in a conference battle.

Going into the game, we knew this was a good test for us, Big Horn plays great defense and they are very big and athletic.

The boys were ready and came out and played a tough first quarter and at the end, the Rams led, 10-8. Both teams defended well and at halftime, the Rams led, 22-15.

In the third quarter, the Rams hit four three-pointers and scored 26 points against us. At the end of the third, the Rams led, 47-28. In the fourth, the Rams outscored us, 22-9 and went on to win the game, 69-37.

I thought our defense was on point in the first half and kept us in the game, but we had an off shooting night and couldn’t get any of our shots to fall. In the second half, we didn’t do the little things on defense that it takes to shut down a good team. We know it takes all four quarters and are working very hard on putting a full game together.

Moorcroft: Caden Connally 1,1, 5; Lane Wood 3, 0-2, 6; Zane Linder 3, 1-2, 7; Cole Stripp 1, 1, 5; Kyler Smith 0, 3-4, 3; Chaz Dewey 0, 5-5, 5; Gavin Bohanon 1, 1-2, 3; and Clay Stipp 1, 3.

Big Horn: C Baker 2, 4-4, 8; J Richards 1, 2-2, 4; G Custis 4, 1, 11; C Butler 5, 3, 2-3, 21; C Baker 1, 2-2, 4; C Bates 5, 10; C Garber 2, 3-3, 7; and T Schons 2, 4.

On Saturday, the Wolves hosted the Wright Panthers in another conference showdown. The boys wanted to play well after the loss to Big Horn and came out and put together our best basketball game of the season.

In the first quarter, the Panthers jumped out to an early 5-0 lead, but the boys maintained their composure and quickly answered back. At the end of 1, the Wolves led, 14-11. The boys came into the second quarter and played great lockdown defense holding the Panthers to just 5 points and took a 30-16 lead into halftime.

We came out in the third quarter with that same defensive intensity and held the Panthers to just five third-quarter points and at the end of three it was 50-21. The fourth quarter was back and forth and the Wolves cruised to a 67-38 win.

Moorcroft 14 16 20 17

Wright 11 5 5 17

Moorcroft: Caden Connally 0, 4-5, 4; Lane Wood 4, 1-4, 9; Zane Linder 2, 2, 5-7, 15; Cole Stripp 1, 1-2, 4; Kyler Smith 2, 4; Chaz Dewey 1, 3; Dane Connally 1, 2; Gavin Bohanon 2, 1-3, 7; Jadon Weeda 6, 12; Tatum Semlek 0, 2-2, 2; and Clay Stripp 2, 0-2, 6.

Wright: B Robb 5, 10; P Worman 4, 2-3, 10; B Joubert 2, 1-2, 5; J Vasquez 2, 6 G Mills 1, 1-2, 3; J Reyes 1, 2; L Morgan 0,2-2, 2.

This win puts us 9-7 overall and (3-3) in conference play. We have two conference games left on the schedule before districts.

This Friday, we host the Sundance Bulldogs and on Saturday, the Tongue River Eagles. I thought we learned a lot from the Big Horn game on what it takes to play with good basketball teams. The boys continue to work very hard and want to succeed. We are getting better every day and this is a great group of kids.

Come out and support the Wolves this weekend!