Lady Buffs’ season ends on state doorstep

The Greybull Lady Buffs lost their regional tournament opener to Big Piney, came back to beat Kemmerer in a loser-out game to give them a shot at a trip to state if they could get by Wyoming Indian High School. A great showing, but the Buffs “just didn’t have enough left in the tank,” and fell, ending their season with the 60-37 loss.

Coach Jeff Hunt had nothing but praise for his squad. 

“This was a great season. Our record doesn’t truly show how well we played this year,” he said. “We had 13 games that were decided by less than 10 points. They scored almost a thousand points this season and several of the girls made their way into top 10 in the Greybull Buff record books.”

The Buffs opened the tournament Thursday facing Big Piney, the No. 2 seed from the Southwest.  “We knew going into we’d have a tough time slowing them down,” Hunt said.  “They have a lot of speed and run the floor well.” 

The Buffs got off to a good start and were up 12-8 at the first-quarter break.  The second quarter belonged to the Lady Punchers, who poured in 19 points while the Buffs were held to just six. It didn’t help when Perla Rodriguez got in foul trouble. She’s a formidable presence and when she is not in the game it shows.

Greybull outscored the Punchers in the third quarter, 15-11,  but were outscored 19-6  in the final quarter.

“We had our chances in the fourth quarter,” Hunt said. The 46-41 loss sent the Buffs into a loser-out game with Kemmerer in the second round.

Kemmerer had lost to Rocky Mountain in the first round.

Hunt described them as a “very tough” defensive team. “Going in we knew we would have to find a way to score early; it took us a few minutes to get going, but once we did, we had one of our best shooting games of the season.  We were up 13-1 with 20 seconds to go in the first quarter before they made their first field goal.”

Their first field goal was a three-pointer, but Mataia Henderson quickly countered that with her third three of the first quarter. The game got closer as the pace picked up and at the halfway mark the Lady Buffs were on top 21-13.

It was a closer game but Hunt said the difference was the swift start in the first quarter.

When the final buzzer sounded the Buffs were on top 42-32.

Greybull shot 45 percent in the game, one of its best shooting games of the season, and was 60% from 3-point land in an explosive shooting display.

Hunt said defensively their game plan was not to give them any easy shots in the key; to make them work for their points, and they did that.

The victory put them in the game to decide whether they, or their opponent, would get a trip to the state tournament. And when you play Wyoming Indian High School you know you are in a real battle. The Buffs kept the game close in the first quarter and were down by just two points, 13-11, but that was as close as it was to be.

Hunt said the Lady Buffs ran out of steam, and when they did, the Lady Chiefs started getting more steals and took control of the game.

The final score was 60-37 and Greybull’s season was over.

Hunt had nothing but praise for his team, and his seniors, who played their last game as a Lady Buff.

“Mataia had a great weekend of basketball to finish her career. She led us in scoring in every game over the weekend. She finished with 40 points and made 10 threes.”  The senior made 3 of 3 from long range in the Kemmerer game and 4 of 8 threes in the game with WIHS.

Mya Oatman was also praised for her performance at the regional tournament. “She had a great weekend,” Hunt said. “She played the best defense she has ever played. Her stats don’t show how great she plays.  She is a huge presence in the key and does so many great things, these two will be missed.” 

Both are seniors and played their last game in a Lady Buff uniform.

Big Piney   8 19 11 8 — 46

Greybull             12   6 15 9 — 42

GREYBULL — Jasmine Rodriguez 0-3 1-1 1, Mataia Henderson 4-16 2-4 13, Shayne Cheatham 1-5 1-2 4, Marlee Henson 2-8 0-0 4, Sherlyn Diaz-Rios 2-3 0-0 4, Perla Rodriguez 3-6 3-6 9, Wyatt Whaley 0-1 0-0 0, Camila Acuna 1-3 1-4 3, Mya Oatman 1-4 1-4 3, Caitlyn Hunt 0-2 2-4 2.  Totals 14-of-51 (FGs) 11-of-25 (FTs) 43.

3-POINT GOALS — Henderson 3, Cheatham.  REBOUNDS — Greybull 35 (P. Rodriguez 8).  STEALS — Greybull 16 (Rodriguez, Cheatham, Henson 3).  ASSISTS — Greybull 9 (J. Rodriguez 3).  TURNOVERS — Greybull 23. 

Kemmerer   4 9 8 11 — 32

Greybull 16 5 9 12 — 42

GREYBULL — J. Rodriguez 0-1 0-0 0, Henderson 4-8 2-2 13, Cheatham 2-4 1-2 5, Henson 1-2 0-4 2, Diaz-Rios 2-2 2-4 6, P. Rodriguez 2-3 2-4 6, Acuna 1-4 1-2 3, Oatman 0-1 0-0 0, Hunt 1-4 5-10 7. Totals 13-of-29 (FGs) 13-of-26 (FTs) 42.

3-POINT GOALS – Henderson.  REBOUNDS — Greybull 21 (P. Rodriguez 6).  STEALS — Greybull 7 (Henderson 3).  ASSISTS — Greybull 6.  TURNOVERS — Greybull 24.

Wyo. Indian 13 16 14 17 — 60

Greybull 11   4   9 13 — 37

GREYBULL — J. Rodriguez 0-5 0-0 0, Henderson  5-11 0-0 14, Cheatham 0-2 0-0 0, Henson 2-5 1-2 5, P. Rodriguez 2-6 1-6 5, Whaley 0-1 0-0 0, Acuna 2-7 0-0 4, Oatman 0-1 2-4 2, Hunt 3-9 0-0 7.  Totals 14-of-47 (FGs) 4-of-12 (FTs) 37.

3-POINT GOALS — Henderson 4, Hunt.  REBOUNDS — Greybull 33 (Acuna 9).  STEALS — Greybull 10 (Acuna 3).  ASSISTS — Greybull 7 (Henson, Acuna 2).  TURNOVERS — Greybull 29.