Boys close the gap in rematch with Grizzlies

The Greybull Buffs’ modest three-game winning streak came to an end, but their inspired play continued in losses last weekend to Rocky Mountain and Thermopolis.

The Buffs were much more competitive in their rematches with the Class 2A North Conference frontrunners, losing the Grizzlies 62-50 Friday night in Byron and to the Bobcats 64-32 Saturday afternoon at Buff Gym.

“We told the guys after the weekend, yeah, it sucks to go 0-2, but they’re still playing some of their best basketball of the season,” said Coach Logan Burningham. “We didn’t get what we wanted, which was another conference win, but we’re going in the right direction.”

The Buffs were blitzed by the Grizzlies in their first encounter of the season, losing 60-31 in a mid-January game at Buff Gym in which they connected on just 25% of their field-goal attempts.

The rims in Cowley were far more kind, as the Buffs shot 44% from the field.  They also committed six fewer turnovers and played better on the defensive end than they did in the first meeting.

Three players reached double figures. Carter Jacobs led with 16, followed by Larry Longshore with 12 and Yandel Hernandez with 11.

“I told the guys beforehand it would be easy to know if we’d be in the game by how much effort and energy they put forth,” said Burningham. “If they’re energetic, flying around and active — if they’re doing the controllables, as we like to call them — we can compete with anyone in the state. Well, maybe not the top two or three, but everyone else.

“We did it for about a game and another half against Thermopolis.  (The Cowley gym) is never an easy place to play, win or shoot, but I’m proud of how we went in there and competed.  We had the lead down to eight in the second half, just didn’t have enough time to complete the comeback.”

While the final scores were similar — 64-32 on Saturday, 60-31 in mid-January — the flow of Greybull’s two games with Thermopolis were very different.

The Buffs were never really in the first game, trailing 31-11 at the half and eventually losing by 29.  But in the rematch, Thermop led by just six, 27-21, at the half.  The Bobcats eventually pulled away, outscoring the Buffs 22-4 in the third and 15-7 in the fourth.

“If you look at that team when they’re warming up, they appear to be built to win state,” said Burningham. “They have size, speed and athleticism.

“Our goal was to limit their positions, make them use 20 to 30 seconds on their end and for us to burn 20 to 30 seconds when we had it.  The first half went our way.  We kept it slow-paced, methodical. But in the second half, we just turned it over too much.”

Jacobs was the only Greybull player in double figures with 12.

This week

The Buffs, who are 8-12 overall and 1-4 in conference play, play a road game in Shoshoni Friday night and host Big Horn Saturday afternoon.  

The latter will double as Senior Night, with varsity tipoff at 3 p.m.

The former may be the most important game of the season to date. The Wranglers have yet to win a conference game and would pull into a tie with the Buffs if win Friday night.

Burningham said the key for his team will be to do a better job containing Quinton Clark. The Shoshoni senior netted 31 in the first matchup, which the Buffs won by one point.

The Big Horn game has no bearing on the conference race, but Burningham said it would be “nice to give our seniors one last hurrah on the home court,” adding, “I want to see us come out with energy and effort and keep those controllable things going in the right direction.”

Looking ahead to the Class 2A West Regional Feb. 27 through March 1 in Riverton, the Buffs are likely looking at a first-round matchup against either Wyoming Indian or Big Piney. 

Rocky Mt. 12 15 20 15 —62

Greybull   9 13 13 15 —50

GREYBULL — Larry Longshore 5-11 0-0 12, Caden Hunt 2-8 1-2 7, Lucas Bolzer 0-0 1-2 1, Cole Wisehart 1-2 0-0 3, Rex Cooper 0-1 0-0 0, Yandel Hernandez 4-8 3-7 11, Carter Jacobs 7-13 1-3 16. Totals 19-of-43 (FGs) 6-of-14 (FTs) 50.

3-POINT GOALS — Longshore 2, Hunt 2, Wisehart, Jacobs.  REBOUNDS — Greybull 22 (Jacobs 5).  STEALS — Greybull 7 (Jacobs 3).  ASSISTS — Greybull 13 (Hunt 6).  TURNOVERS — Greybull 14.

Thermop 13 14 22 15 — 64

Greybull   7 14   4   7 — 32

GREYBULL — Longshore 1-3 0-0 2, Hunt 1-8 1-2 3, Anthony Chacon 0-1 0-0 0, Bolzer 1-6 0-0 2, Isaac Vigil 2-6 0-2 4, Rex Cooper 1-1 0-2 2, Yandel Hernandez 3-6 1-5 7, Carter Jacobs 5-8 1-2 12.  Totals 14-of-38 (FGs) 3-of-13 (FTs) 32.

3-POINT GOALS — Jacobs.  REBOUNDS — Greybull 21 (Hernandez 8).  STEALS — Greybull 9 (Wisehart 3).  ASSISTS — Greybull 6 (Hunt, Jacobs 2).  TURNOVERS — Greybull 25.