Middle school A team rallies late but falls to Powell

In a game that slipped past our coverage last week, Rocky’s middle school A team nearly flipped the script against Powell on Tuesday, Feb. 3, rallying from an early hole before falling 43–38.

After losing the first meeting by 15 points and opening this rematch with their roughest first quarter of the season, the Grizzlies were down 14 early. From there, the response was exactly what head coach McKay Baxendale hoped to see.

“Our boys played phenomenally,” Baxendale said. “Our pressure defense pushed the tempo like we wanted, they handled Powell’s pressure with patience, we rebounded well, ran our offenses and with a minute left had a chance to win the game.”

The Grizzlies outscored Powell in the second and fourth quarters and stayed within striking distance throughout the second half. Hudson Moore led the scoring with 11 points, while Dally Malson and Ty Samson each added 8. The Grizzlies knocked down seven three-pointers in the game.

The difference came late, when a defensive breakdown allowed Powell a go-ahead layup in the final minute.

“I’ll take the responsibility for how the game ended,” Baxendale said. “I made a coaching error that left Powell open for a late game layup, but I’m proud of those boys. They played their hearts out.”

B team gains experience

The B team faced a difficult night against a larger Powell squad, falling 57–3 in a game that tested composure and fundamentals from start to finish.

Despite the scoreline, coach Colten Hodge emphasized the value of the matchup and the growth he saw over four quarters.

“It is hard not to become demoralized after games like this, but these match-ups with bigger schools are a great way to gain experience in higher level play,” Hodge said.

Powell’s pressure limited offensive opportunities early, but Hodge pointed to progress as the game went on.

“Resisting pressure and avoiding offensive panic was our key motif for the game,” he said. “Creating help situations and relying on fundamentals to this end yielded a measurable improvement from the first to the second half.”

Eli Wallman scored the B team’s lone basket, while the Grizzlies battled on the boards against constant pressure.

The Grizzlies have a busy stretch ahead, with three home dates in three days. They will host Burlington today (Thursday) for three games beginning at 4:15 p.m., followed by Thermopolis on Friday with three games starting at 1:30 p.m. and Shoshoni for another three-game set Saturday morning at 9:30.

Next week opens with a road series at Greybull, where the Grizzlies will play three games on Monday beginning at 4:15 p.m.