Team sees changes this season

With Christmas break underway, the winter sports are one month into their seasons. The girls’ basketball team for the 2024-25 season looks a lot different than it did last year. With players moving on, the roles of the girls have changed and continued to strengthen. 

The first week found the teams in Burns for opening weekend. The girls went 1-2, and saw some good competition in the defending 1A state champion from a year ago in Southeast. With a 38-24 loss, the girls played well given they did not have much time together on the court and Southeast had three returning starters and three significant role players from last year’s team.

The second game of the tournament placed a young 3A Burns team against the Lady Wolves. Falling 53-44, the girls continued to gel together and make strides towards their ultimate goal of playing as one, for ONE.

In their third game of the weekend, the girls played Guernsey-Sunrise, and although Guernsey was depleted with injuries, the Lady Wolves played a very sound defensive game. 

With a long trip down to Burns and a short week of practice, the Wolves were back in the saddle for another long road trip. The Foothills Classic in Ethete and Pavillion, placed the Lady Wolves up against two of the top four teams from the west side of the state.

Four games in three days is a lot of basketball, especially for the girls who play both on varsity and JV.

Night one placed #1 Wyoming Indian against your home town Wolves. Even though the Lady Wolves got out early and seemed to be in position for a potential upset, the Lady Chiefs pulled away 63-18.

The morning of day two placed Moorcroft against Wind River. With a 44-34 loss, the continued focus is on playing a complete defensive game and learning each other’s tendencies. The growth in these areas is evident each game with the girls making strides in getting better individually and collectively. 

The scheduled game three pit Moorcroft against a taller, bigger Greybull team. This game should be the most impressive.

Going into halftime the Lady Wolves found themselves down 17, but clawing back to within seven just about halfway through the third quarter. Even though the score does not reflect this (59-34), the legs were starting to grow a bit weary.

The fourth and final game of the weekend on the morning of day three wrapped up with a feisty Big Piney team. Once again, the Lady Wolves got ahead early, leading 8-4 with just over two minutes to go in the first quarter. Adversity was found in the form of shots not falling, leading to mental fatigue, ultimately falling to the Punchers 49-27.

To someone on the outside looking in the record says 1-6, and three of the games being bigger than 20-point spreads. To those invested in these girls, I am not sure I have seen a group grow as much as this group has in just one month.

They all have great attitudes, and continue to develop their skills. This group is athletic, hungry for learning more, never quits and genuinely cares for one another. This is a great group of young ladies, so keep an eye on these girls moving into the new year.