ROCK SPRINGS – What a difference a week can make. The Rock Springs Tigers took what they learned from a 1-2 performance a week ago and translated it to a 3-0 finish at the Flaming Gorge Classic.

The team started the season in Gillette and faced tough, out-of-state competition. They finished the opening-weekend tourney 1-2. Tiger fans got a chance to see just how strong this Rock Springs team is in the first game of the season. They pushed Gillette, who was ranked second in 4A at the time, to the final buzzer coming up just two points short.

The Tigers did win the last game of the tournament. 

The team opened the Flaming Gorge Classic on Thursday. It also meant first home action of the year for Rock Springs. Behind 22 points from Demetrius Davenport and 21 by Carter Rosette, the Tigers rolled to a 62-45 win over North Summit to open the Classic. 

The Tigers returned to the floor on Friday to face an Interstate 80 opponent in Mountain View. The 3A Buffalos lost to Rich County by 23 points on Thursday to open the tourney.

Rock Springs jumped out quick and took a 28-3 lead at the end of the first quarter. Mountain View would string some offense together in the second half but it was all Tigers as they rolled to 82-44 win.

It was a complete team effort in the Mountain View win as several Tigers scored in double figures. So far this season, Tiger fans have watched an unselfish team share the ball and this was again the case in the Friday win.

On Saturday, Rock Springs would look to make it a three-game sweep in the Classic. They would face another 3A squad as Worland took the floor. The Tigers would get off to a slow start as Worland took an early lead. Austin Pivic and Carter Rosette would spark the offense and help pull the team even at the end of one.

Jared Rodriguez would find Rosette to get the second quarter going. Rodriguez would hit a three and Davenport would go to work as the Tigers quickly went up nine. In the third quarter, Worland would fight back and pull even with the Tigers at 50. It would be Pivic who would break the tie and give the Tigers the lead heading into the fourth, 52-51.

Trevor Hautala would score first in the fourth and Davenport would find him again for his second basket of the day as the Tigers jumped ahead by five. Worland was able to score, but the Tigers would match to maintain a five-point avantage. Davenport would add crucial points down the stretch to keep them just out of reach.

The Tigers would take the one-point win, 66-65. The final score was a little deceptive as the Warriors would hit a shot from half court as the final buzzer was going off.

Davenport would have another monster game for Rock Springs as he finished with 26 points. Austin Pivic was also key in the win as he finished with 14 points and eight rebounds for the Tigers. Rosette would also finish off a strong tournament showing with 11.

Riding a four-game winning streak, the Tigers will now have to wait until after the new year to look to make it five. They will battle in the final tournament action of the year in Cheyenne Jan. 7-9. The Tigers will open against Cheyenne East on Jan. 7 followed by a battle with Windsor, Colo., on Friday. The team will wrap up the tournament on Saturday as they will take on Sheridan.

Rock Springs will return home the following weekend with games against Laramie and Cheyenne South on Jan. 15 and Jan. 16. They will remain at Tiger Arena for the next three games against Riverton, Evanston and then Green River on Jan. 28.