Lady Grizzlies sweep Thermop and Big Horn

The third-ranked Rocky Mountain Lady Grizzlies extended their mid-season winning streak to five games over the weekend with a home conference win over Thermopolis Friday, 50-40, and a non-conference road win at Big Horn Saturday, 42-29.

Fifth-ranked Thermopolis, who dropped down to Class 2A this season after playing at the 3A level for several years, was coming off a 64-46 win over perennial powerhouse and fourth-ranked Wyoming Indian Thursday night, but the Lady Grizz were up to the task.

The Grizzlies came out with a strong defensive effort, poking the ball away for steals several times in the first quarter to force five Thermop turnovers. A drive for two and three-pointer by Kaysie Cooley, followed by a Lauren Bassett free throw, put Rocky up 9-8 until the Lady Bobcats crashed the boards for multiple offensive rebounds and finally cashed one in for a 10-9 lead after the first quarter.

The two foes were tied 13-13 with three minutes left in the second quarter, but the Lady Grizz finished the half with a flourish, outscoring Thermopolis 8-2 to lead 21-15 at intermission. Cooley’s second trey of the game sparked the Lady Grizz run.

“We knew going in that they have a few good girls, but we’re deeper – a deeper bench to throw at them,” Rocky head coach Justin Moss noted. “It showed in that the first quarter was tight, but we did a good job asserting ourselves in the second quarter and in the second half. We were able to attack and get some of their girls in foul trouble, and that really paid off.

“Defensively, we switched back and forth between a man and zone, and we really wanted to stay in front of (Jayssie) Owsley. We knew she did a good job going downhill – driving and attacking. Tarynn (Schoening) did a good job staying in front, and we got good ball-side help.”

Thermop battled back to knot the score at 21 early in the third quarter, but Rocky Mountain responded with a 10-0 run that included two three-point bombs by Keylee Christiansen on assists by Shelby Wambeke and Sharlotte Hanusa to lead 31-21. Bassett also drove for two points on an assist from Brittly Boettcher, and Christiansen dished to Hanusa for two.

Rocky led 35-27 at the quarter break.

The Lady Bobcats closed the deficit to four points in the fourth, 35-31, but the red-hot Cooley responded with a trey and a two-point jumper to put Rocky up 40-31, and the Lady Grizz hit eight free throws down the stretch to win 50-40.

“Kaysie is getting more comfortable with all of the things we do,” Moss said of the sophomore. “She put in a lot of work going to camps. We tell her: ‘Use your skills. Use your tools.’ Our assists are going up, and our turnovers are going down because we’re connected and learning how to play together and set each other up.

“They hit some shots, but we were able to keep control of the game. A lot of it is our depth. All of the girls are able to contribute and help us be successful.”

Cooley finished with 16 points, Bassett 11, Christiansen and Boettcher 7 each, Halle Grandalen 5, Hanusa and Wambeke 2 apiece. Bassett grabbed 13 rebounds for a double-double, and Boettcher finished with nine boards and five steals.

Big Horn

Saturday at Big Horn, the Lady Grizzlies found themselves in a tough defensive battle with the home team, and Big Horn forged an 11-10 lead at halftime. But the Lady Grizz came out firing in the second half and outscored Big Horn 16-9 in both the third and fourth quarters to win by 13, 42-29.

Rocky started the second half with a 10-0 burst as Wambeke drained a three-pointer, then scored on an offensive rebound and bucket. She also fed Bassett for a driving layup, and Cooley splashed a trey on an assist from Schoening. Rocky led 20-11.

Moss said a key to maintaining the lead down the stretch was Schoening’s defense against Big Horn star Emme Mullinax, noting, “She did a good job on her.”

It was a solid win, Moss said, noting that Big Horn had recently blown out Wright and defeated then fifth-ranked Sundance and second-ranked Pine Bluffs and has “a bunch of really good athletes.”

“They had three quality wins (coming in) and were on a roll, but defensively, we were tough,” he said, “and we only had 10 turnovers.”

Bassett was “a force” again, Moss said, recording 16 point and 10 rebounds. Cooley added 13 points, Wambeke 8, Boettcher 3 and Schoening and Christiansen 1 apiece. Schoening snared seven rebounds, Cooley, Christiansen and Boettcher 5 each.

Number one to town

Now 12-5, the Lady Grizzlies will continue their rough and rugged schedule as they host the number one team in the state – Tongue River – Friday night. Tip-off times are 4 (JV) and 5:30 p.m. Saturday, the Lady Grizz will travel to meet another ranked foe in the form of fourth ranked Wyoming Indian in Ethete at noon and 1:30 p.m.

Tongue River is 15-1 and returns four starters from last season’s state championship team. Moss said the Lady Eagles probably haven’t faced a team that plays defense like the Lady Grizz.

As for Wyoming Indian (12-5), the Lady Chiefs have good shooters, Moss said, adding, “We need to make sure we contest them. They’re not as athletic as they’ve been in the past.

“We need to take care of the ball and play inside out,” Moss said of the final stretch. “If we can hit a few shots from the outside, we’re tough to beat.”