GREEN RIVER — The Green River girls and boys basketball teams opened conference play Tuesday night with convincing home wins over Evanston, as the Lady Wolves earned a 73-49 victory and the Wolves followed with a 56-32 win, using balanced scoring, defensive pressure and strong second-half performances to pull away from the Red Devils.
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Girls
Green River took control early and never trailed after the opening minutes in a 73-49 win over Evanston.
After winning the opening tip, Sophia Arnold scored the game’s first basket with just over six minutes remaining in the first quarter. Evanston briefly took its only lead at 5:20 on a backdoor layup by Madison Brown, but Isa Vasco answered immediately. A steal by Sydnie Eastman on the ensuing inbound led to another quick basket, igniting a 12-0 run that pushed Green River ahead 14-3 and forced an Evanston timeout with 3:03 left in the quarter.
The Lady Wolves continued to apply pressure and led 19-6 after one quarter, with Vasco scoring nine points in the period, adding to her career total just three days after reaching the 1,000-career-point milestone at the James Johnson Winter Classic. She would later be honored at halftime of the boys game for her acomplishment.
Both teams struggled to score early in the second quarter, with the first field goal not coming until nearly two minutes in. After Evanston scored, Green River head coach Clint Landon called a timeout. Vasco followed with a free throw, and Nicole Wilson then took over, scoring repeatedly off steals and strong finishes in traffic, including a basket inside the paint while surrounded by four defenders.
Wilson scored 10 points in the quarter as Green River pulled away, taking a 37-20 lead into halftime. Wilson led the Lady Wolves with 14 points at the break.
Green River opened the second half quickly to extend its lead to 42-20, but Evanston responded with a run to cut the deficit to 43-28 midway through the third. Vasco halted the momentum with back-to-back baskets, pushing the lead back to 20. Evanston made another push late in the quarter, but Green River still held a 55-36 advantage heading into the fourth.
With the outcome largely decided, both teams played reserves for much of the final quarter as Green River closed out the 73-49 victory.
Wilson led all scorers with 23 points, while Vasco finished with 22. Natalie Tynsky added 10 points, and the Lady Wolves had nine different players score. Emma Lonsway led Evanston with 13 points.
Green River improved to 9-2, while Evanston fell to 5-6.
After the game, Landon praised Wilson’s ability to score in traffic and maneuver her body in midair, describing it as almost alien-like.
“She works her tail off, and I enjoy when she plays like this,” Landon said. “We are tough to beat when she plays like this.”
Boys
The Green River boys followed with a dominant defensive performance in a 56-32 win, holding Evanston to just 13 points in the entire second half.
After Green River won the opening tip, Evanston scored first at the free-throw line, but Gavin Jones answered with a basket off an assist from Dax Taylor. Taylor then attacked the rim himself, drawing contact and converting one of two free throws as Green River began to establish physicality.
The Wolves led 8-3 midway through the first quarter before Evanston tied the game at 8-8. Green River responded out of a timeout and closed the quarter strong, taking a 13-10 lead into the second.
The second quarter was tightly contested, with the score tied at 17-17 and again at 19-19 midway through. Jake Demaret broke the tie with a layup, Adam Robertson added a basket late, and Travyn Killpack hit a shot at the buzzer to give Green River a 25-19 halftime lead. Killpack scored all six of his first-half points in the second quarter.
The Wolves took control immediately in the third quarter, opening on a 14-2 run. Green River led 38-21 midway through the period and 43-21 by the end of the quarter, outscoring Evanston 18-2.
Green River’s defense remained locked in during the fourth. With four minutes left, the Wolves led 51-24, having allowed just five points in the 12 minutes since halftime.
Late in the game, manager Ethan Bundy checked in and scored his first varsity point of the season at the free-throw line, converting one of two technical free throws as Green River closed out the 56-32 win.
Taylor led the Wolves with 13 points, while Killpack added 10. Demaret scored in all four quarters and finished with nine points.
After the game, Jones credited Killpack’s impact. “He did great and started attacking the rim, making a difference,” Jones said.
Green River head coach Laurie Ivie spoke about Bundy’s appearance after the game stating he’s been on the team for all four years, and this year decided to be a manager. Today they were a kid down, he offered to play since he helps with the practice squad and has been around.
“He laced them up,” Ivie said. “Our kids truly love each other.”
The win marked Green River’s first victory over Evanston after seven straight losses in the series. Green River improved to 9-1, while Evanston dropped to 5-6.
Check out some photos from the games below.
