Mustang eighth graders get first win, seventh graders continue to roll

The Lovell Middle School boys basketball teams have had a busy couple of weeks, playing five opponents and playing multiple games in the past two weeks.
Playing Lander on Saturday, Jan.27, in Powell, the eighth grade A team won 36-25, their first win of the season.
“We came out on fire,” coach Steven Durtsche said. “Dallin Bischoff fired up three three-pointers. He hit all three. Kyson Crosby added a three, and in about two minutes we were up 12-2. Dallin finished with a team high 12 points. Kyson added 8.
“It was fun to see the boys get excited knowing they had a great chance to win after we started the game on fire. I saw effort throughout the entire game.”
Against Lander B, the Mustangs won 30-18. Tyler Knowles led the team in scoring with 13 points.
Facing Riverton A on January 27, as well, the Mustangs lost 25-21. Coach Durtsche said, “We had many opportunities to win this game. I thought we played good defense but just struggled to make our bunnies. Had we made our shots around the rim, I believe the outcome of that game would be much different. We outrebounded them and even took quite a few more shots than them. The ball simply just did not go through the hoop enough.”
The Lovell B team faced Riverton, as well, and won in overtime, 27-25. “Tyler Knowles again led the B team in scoring with 8 points,” Durtsche said. “The rest of the team chipped in and battled for a hard-fought victory.”
Thursday Feb. 1, the Mustangs traveled to Worland, losing the game 33-20.
“I felt that it was a closer game than it should have been,” Durtsche noted. “We came out extremely flat, and Worland took advantage of it. At the beginning of the game, we had a couple of opportunities that we just did not take advantage of. Worland is a team I believe we can beat if we play to our potential. We need to have better help side defense and box out a bit better.”
The B team also lost in a very close game against Worland, losing in overtime 28-26. Having dealt with much sickness on the team, the Mustangs played with six athletes on Thursday.
“We struggled to keep our energy up for eight straight quarters,” Durtsche said. “We fought hard and gave it everything we had.”
Seventh grade
Facing off against Cody on Tuesday, Jan. 23, the Lovell seventh-grade A team beat Cody 41-36. Kannon Owens led the Mustangs with 23 points, and Mason Leithead and Mac Morgan added 6 points each, Weston Hendershot 4 and Reigo Romero 2.
The Lovell B team dominated Cody 36-29. Romero scored 18 points, Harper Morgan 12 and Zander Stahl, Oscar Garcia and Zavier Heater 2 apiece.
Playing against the Riverton Spartans on Saturday, Jan. 27, at home, the A team destroyed their opponent 44-14. Mac Morgan scored 16 points, Romero and Owens 9 each, Hudson Miller 4 and Hendershot, Jasper Lopez and Easton Morgan 2 apiece.
The Lovell B team won, as well, 21-17. Chris Carabay led the Mustangs with 13 points, and Stahl, Jerric McArthur and Harper Morgan added 2 each, Garcia and Andy Entel 1 each.
The Mustangs A team faced off against Lander on Saturday, as well, recording a 47-34 win. Romero scored 13 points, Owens 12, Easton and Mac Morgan 6 each, Hendershot 3 and Lopez and Leithead 2 apiece.
The Lovell B team lost 28-14. Harper Morgan scored 6 points, Stahl, Entel, Hayden Workman and Heater 2 apiece.
Tuesday, Jan. 30, the seventh grade A team scored a win against Powell, 50-19. Mac Morgan led the way with 15 points, and Owens added 9 points, Leithead 8, Easton Morgan 6, Romero 5, Cornia 4 and Hendershot 1.
On Thursday the seventh-grade boys faced off against Worland at home, winning a tight game 42-41. Owens led the team with 15 points, and Romero scored 9, Mac Morgan 6, Leithead 5, Hendershot 3, Cornia 2 and Miller and Easton Morgan 1 each.
Coach Collin McArthur said his team has made great improvement, adding, “I am very impressed with their attitudes.”
Having played Cody Tuesday, the Mustangs will take on Thermopolis today (Thursday) at 4:15 p.m., with the seventh graders at home and the eighth graders in Thermop. The Mustangs meet Powell Monday at 4:15, with the seventh graders in Powell and the eighth graders hosting.