Boys basketball season ends

The Green River High School boys basketball team's season came to a close Thursday, after losing the opening regional tournament game against Evanston High School, 66-38.

Green River started the game in the lead, when Sophomore Gavin Heiser made the first score in the game, 1 of 2 from the foul line.

The Wolves were able to keep Evanston at bay for a while. After four possessions, Evanston started earning points.

Evanston improved well enough during the season and through the course of the game, they lead soon afterward, leading at the end of the first quarter, 17-5.

The third and fourth quarters of the game was a back and forth battle in points made, all the while Green River struggled to make the lead. In the end the Wolves came up short, but the game was not without accomplishments.

Green River made forced 10 turnovers by Evanston. Evanston previously made an average of 9 turnovers in previous games. Green River made 11 turnovers themselves, a positively stark comparison to their 18 turnover average in games before.

Other positive aspects seen during the game was the Wolves' high scoring players.

Junior Hunter Spartz lead the game in rebounds and points made. He made a total of 21 points during the game. Spartz made 12 from the field, made 4 of 7 at the free-throw line and made 5 boards.

Both Sophomores Cameron Morris and Devin Love made 6 points.

Freshman Chase Stoeger made 5 points, and was the only Wolves player to make a shot from 3 during the game. Sophomore Gavin Heiser also made 5 points for the team, and made 3 of 4 points shooting from the charity stripe.

Points for the Wolves were also made by Sophomore players Candon Croft and Chance Hofer.

Evanston was tough competition for Green River, both teams making improvements as the season progressed. It's been a trying, challenge-filled season for the Wolves. They stepped up to the plate with all the strength they had and no wins under their belt.

They proved themselves and made a couple wins during their season, breaking Green River's two-year boys varsity basketball losing streak when they faced a team from Grace, Idaho in the Flaming Gorge Classic basketball tournament, 50-45. Through out their season the Wolves had close games, where the outcome of the game wasn't known until the last few minutes in the game.

"The players put forth a season's worth of hard work and dedication that started clear back in May," head coach Laurie Ivie said. "All teams at all levels have taken great strides in moving forward as a program."

Ivie said their team goals for next season center around taking every opportunity during their off-season that they can to better themselves. She said the team as a whole knows the immense importance of attendance and participation in the weight room, open gyms, shooting programs, camps, and game play. 

The team's senior players Evan Carrollo and Trevor Zumwalt will be graduating. The team will have many returning players continue on next year and know they have their work cut out for them, on-and-off season.

"Off-season commitment will be critical moving forward," Ivie said. "And we have very dedicated athletes willing to put in the time to make it happen."