Rocky Mountain Grizzlies bounce back at Big Horn after loss to Thermop

The resilient Rocky Mountain Grizzlies took one on the chin from the talented and top-ranked Thermopolis Bobcats Friday night but came back strong with a win at Big Horn Saturday.

The Grizz hung with the Bobcats at home Friday before the visitors pulled away for a 52-30 win, but on Saturday it was the Grizzlies who pulled away late in the second half for a 51-44 win.

Rocky never led against Thermopolis, but they stayed within striking range throughout the first half. The Bobcats led 12-5 after the first quarter and were up 13-7 in the second quarter when a baseline drive and inside move by freshman Mason Moss cut the lead to two, 13-11. Then with Rocky down 17-11, Bryce Haslem drained a three-pointer for the Grizz to cut the lead to three, 17-14, before Thermop took a 19-14 lead at halftime.

“With their athleticism and their length, we really struggled to get good looks,” Rocky coach Pat Winland said. “Our guards had a tough time getting their shots off. Inside, they’re lengthy, too, and their bigs were changing our shots.

“We were right there in the first half, and I was extremely proud of the kids, but we didn’t respond well at the start of the third quarter.”

Thermopolis came out of the locker room on fire and scored the first 10 points of the third quarter to lead 29-14 before a baseline move by Moss broke the ice. Thermop led 37-22 after the third quarter, and although Rocky battled in the fourth including a three-pointer by Haslem and a power move by Tucker Jackson to make the score 43-30, the visitors scored the final nine points of the game to win 52-30.

“We’re not a high scoring team, so it’s tough to come back against a team like that,” Winland said.

The Grizz shot just 31.6 percent from the field and hit just three of 16 three-point attempts. Twenty Rocky turnovers led to 24 Thermop points.

Moss finished with 9 points, Haslem 8, Lafe Files 7, Jackson 4 and Cole Minchow 2. Jackson led the team with eight rebounds.

Road win

The Grizz hit the road to play familiar 2A Northeast foe Big Horn Saturday and came away with a strong win, 51-44. The game was tight most of the way. The Grizzlies trailed 19-16 at halftime and 29-28 after three, then outscored the home team 23-15 in the fourth quarter.

Already the leading scorer with 11 points through three quarters, Minchow fired in 13 points in the fourth, draining a trey and a two-pointer and hitting eight free throws. In fact, the Grizz lived at the foul line in the quarter, hitting 16 of 22 attempts.

“That was a great, competitive game for us on the road,” Winland said. “It’s never easy to win over there. They’re athletic and physical, but one thing we took advantage of was their turnovers. I had them for 32. It wasn’t a great shooting night for either team, except for us at the free-throw line. We were in the bonus in every quarter, so that helped.

“We rebounded better in the second half. Cole was able to hit some threes in the second half. Alex Hedges had some key plays – rebounds and steals – to get us extra possessions.”

Minchow was blazing at Big Horn. The senior guard scored 24 points and hit 14 of 18 shots at the foul line. Moss added 10 points, Jackson 6, Hudson May 4, Haslem 3 and Hedges and Cooper Winland 2 apiece. The Grizzlies made 28 of 38 free throws. Jackson led the team with six rebounds, five steals, four deflections and three blocked shots. Moss and Hedges had five rebounds each. Hedges had three deflections and three steals.

Junior varsity

The Rocky JVs swept Thermopolis and Big Horn this weekend, topping Thermop 45-40 and Big Horn 49-39.

Rocky had a strong first half in the Thermop game at home Friday, leading 27-19 at intermission as Joaquin Scheeler poured in 10 points. Thermop trimmed the lead to four points, 36-32, after three, and Rocky edged the visitors 9-8 in the fourth to preserve the win.

Scheeler finished with 17 points, Evin Clendenen 9, Jaxson Miller 6, Jaxon Hayes 5, Winland 4 and Kellan Jackson and Travis Crosby 2 each.

Saturday in Big Horn, the two teams were tied 36-36 after three quarters, but the Grizz outscored the Rams 13-3 to win by 10. Clendenen scored 16 points, Scheeler 14, Winland 9, Miller 7, Jackson 2 and Hayes 1.

Weekend ahead

The Grizzlies will return home to face another 2A Northeast opponent Friday in the form of Tongue River, then will travel south to Ethete Saturday to face the rival Wyoming Indian Chiefs. Tip-off times are 4 (JV) and 5:30 p.m. Friday and noon and 3 p.m. Saturday.

Tongue River (3-13) is young and in an apparent rebuilding mode, Winland said, though he said the Eagles play hard and had a 6-7 player who was on the Eagles’ state qualifying team a year ago.

Third-ranked Wyoming Indian (12-5) is always strong, especially at home, but Winland is confident, noting, “This is another opportunity to see them before Regionals. The kids know and believe they can play with them.”