State hopes end in RS

A tough 63-46 loss last week ended the Green River High School Boy’s Basketball team’s hopes for a state championship tournament appearance.

Facing Natrona County High School for the second time in a week, the Wolves needed to win their first game in the regional basketball tournament Thursday to stay in the tournament. However, despite a strong first quarter, the Wolves fell behind and were unable to keep up with the Mustangs.

While the Mustangs were the first to score, Green River kept up, capitalizing on free throws from the Mustangs’ seven fouls made during the first quarter. The Wolves, in total, scored six of their 15 points in the quarter from free throws The final two free throws of the quarter, made by junior Dakota Wingard, resulted in Green River’s only lead on the Mustangs. The Mustangs would take the lead shortly after, ending the quarter with two three-point shots and a three-point lead over Green River, 18-15.

The Wolves’ offensive struggles started during the second quarter, as the team was held to nine points during the period while Natrona scored another 15 by the end of the half. Green River also began fouling more frequently, with six fouls recorded during the 8-minute period, which gave the Mustangs more opportunities to widen the gap between the two teams.

During the third quarter, the Wolves’ struggles continued as the team was unable to score until nearly halfway into the period, with 4:29 remaining, as the result of a successful freethrow attempt by junior Cameron Morris.

The team would end up scoring 12 points before the end, but trailed Natrona by 20 points 56-36 at the end of the quarter.

During the fourth quarter, the Wolves battled to close the gap set by the Mustangs, ending the game trailing 17 points behind. The quarter also resulted in an injury for the Wolves, as Morris was helped off the court by athletic trainers near the end of the game.

The loss against Natrona was the second loss the team suffered at the hands of the Mustangs within a week, the team’s losing streak extends to seven games. The team also loses one senior this year, Hunter Spartz.