Young Lady Grizzlies stop Greybull, take Lovell into overtime

The Rocky Mountain Lady Grizzly C team jumped into the new year with three games in eight days over the last week. The Grizz stopped Greybull at home Monday, Jan. 13, 32-19, then fell at Burlington Tuesday, 35-23. On Monday, Jan. 20, the Lady Grizz took Lovell into overtime at home before falling 40-36.

The Lady Grizz started the new year with a strong performance at home against Greybull on Monday, Jan. 13. Greybull led 9-8 after the first quarter, but an 8-1 second-quarter advantage left Rocky up 16-10 at halftime. Rocky then outscored Greybull 6-0 in the third quarter to boost the lead to 22-10 en route to the 32-19 victory.

Halle Grandalen led the Lady Grizz with 14 points, and Brooklyn Larsen added 8, Kennedy Brimhall and Layla Gardner 4 apiece, Charlee Welling 2.

“Our girls had a great game,” head coach Jamie Cooley said. “I am so excited about all the great things we saw from them. We moved the ball well on offense. They really did a good job looking to make things happen, not just for themselves, but making scoring opportunities for their teammates, as well.

“Our guards were being pressured as they brought the ball across the court, and the girls were able to move the ball and maintain composure without getting stuck in a trap. Our posts always work hard under the basket, and that night they did a great job posting up, moving the ball and finishing the play. It was great to see our posts play off of each other.” 

Burlington gradually pulled away Tuesday in a battle between District One rivals. The Lady Huskies led 8-4 after the first quarter, 18-7 at halftime and 26-13 after three quarters before Rocky won the fourth 10-9. Grandalen finished with 7 points for the Lady Grizz, Gardner 6, Leah Haslem 5, Brimhall 3 and Larsen 2.

“We couldn’t get things going in the first half on offense or defense,” Cooley said. “At half we were able to make some changes, and we came out in the second half ready to play. Our girls worked hard and fought their way back into the game. We started talking on defense, and that made a world of difference; we weren’t getting caught on screens or missing cutters.

“On offense we started swinging the ball a little quicker and were able to make some things happen for our teammates. I am proud of the effort our girls made this game. We were up against an older and bigger team, and I think we did a great job holding them. This is a great group of girls, and I think they have a lot of success ahead of them.”

Lovell game

Monday at home, the Lady Grizzlies trailed 14-11 at halftime but outscored Lovell 16-6 in the third quarter to lead 27-20 heading into the fourth. Eight missed free throws in the fourth cost the Rocky team as Lovell won the quarter 13-6, sending the game into overtime. Lovell outscored Rocky 7-3 in overtime for the four-point win.

Brimhall and Gardner scored 8 points each for Rocky Mountain, Grandalen 7, Welling 5, Haslem and Emma Sponsel 4 each.

Ava Edwards led Lovell with 15 points, and Ali Walker added 13, Avery Walker 8, Caylee Herman 2 and Addie Weber and Christina Zollman 1 apiece.

“We started the game off pretty well,” Cooley said. “Our girls played some great defense last night, protecting the paint. We were able to move the ball well on offense, looking for good shots and kickouts. This team really does a great job moving the ball and creating plays for their teammates.

“When Lovell put on their press, we started to rush things and panic a bit, throwing the ball away a few times. After making some adjustments on our press break at half, we came out and handled the press much better and we were able to outscore them in the third quarter. Our fourth quarter proved to be a tough one for us. We got into foul trouble, and the Lovell girls could not miss their free throws.

“It was a great game that took us into overtime. I am very proud of these girls and how hard they work. They are improving so much. Every time they step on the floor they are moving forward. They are fun to watch.”

Lovell coach Jen Hessenthaler was equally pleased.

“This was an awesome game,” Hessenthaler said. “The girls struggled to run the zone offense the first part of the game and struggled defensively at times, but they rallied in the fourth quarter to overcome a five-point deficit in the last minute of regulation to force an overtime. In overtime we played without two starters who fouled out, and the girls ended up out scoring Rocky 7-3 to win the game.

“This was a game of true grit and showed the girls’ understanding of the game.”

The Rocky freshmen (C team) are off the rest of the week, then travel to Greybull Monday for a 6:15 p.m. tip-off and to Powell Tuesday for a 5 p.m. tap.