GMS seventh graders earn conference title
Greybull Middle School is celebrating a conference championship in girls basketball.
The seventh graders accomplished their primary goal, routing Shoshoni 35-31 in the opening round and Burlington 34-16 in the championship game Saturday in Basin.
Team members included Reagan Vigil, Makinli Mowery, Ella Keisel, Joey Boyer, Kaylee Cervantes, Wendy Garcia, Lovely Araiza, Josie Collingwood, Josey Whaley and Lyddia Rios.
“Our girls were ready to play when we showed up on Saturday morning,” said Coach Tami Wright. “We started off pressing which was new to us as we could not do it during the season, but they did a pretty good job at it.”
While the girls struggled to convert close to the basket, they rebounded well and took advantage of second-chance opportunities.
“Overall the girls played well and everyone got playing time,” she said.
By winning their conference tournament, the young Lady Buffs earn a berth in this weekend’s Yellowstone Conference Tournament in Thermopolis. They are seeded eight and will play Cody in the opening round. Tip-off is at 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 9.
Other opening round games pit Nov. 4 Lovell against No. 5 Lander, No. 2 Powell versus No. 7 Riverton and No. 3 Thermopolis against No. 6 Worland. The third- and fifth-place games are at 2 p.m. with the title game to follow at 3:15 p.m.
“We know it will be tough competition but it will be good for our girls to play against teams that will challenge us,” said Wright.
Eighth graders
Her team didn’t come out on top, but Coach Rebekka Eichelberger said she was proud of how her eighth graders competed at their conference tournament. The girls won their opener, beating Ten Sleep 26-10, but dropped their next two, falling to Shoshoni 34-6 and Burlington 17-14 to finish fourth.
They’d gone 6-6 in the regular season, tying Burlington for third in the conference standings.
Eichelberger was optimistic heading in the tournament after seeing her team play one of its best games of the season against Meeteetse.
At the time, she said, “It has been fun watching each of the girls gain confidence in their own abilities as well as trust in their teammates.”