RIVERTON – After losing to an experienced Riverton team to open the Bill Strannigan Invite, the Rock Springs Tigers came back strong and capped the tournament with a 14-point win over Jackson on Saturday, 65-51.
The Tigers earned their first win of the season Friday as the responded from the early loss with a win over fourth-ranked Sheridan. Against new conference foe Jackson on Saturday, the Tigers looked good again.
Trevor Hautala broke the 20-point mark for the second straight game as he finished with 27 to lead the way for Rock Springs. Kelby Kramer finished with 10 points, six rebounds and five blocks while Nick McMurtrey added nine points and six boards. Kael Mikkelsen added seven while Andrew Beltran scored six the Tiger win on Saturday.
Kramer started the scoring and a three-point play by Mikkelsen had the Tigers down one early. A bucket by Nick McMurtrey gave Rock Springs the lead and a quick jumper by Beltran extended it to three, 9-6. Mikkelsen and Hautala finished the first quarter strong as Rock Springs jumped up 15-6.
After looking for his teammates to start the game, Hautala looked to score in the second. Four quick points by the Tiger extended the lead to double digits. Derek Lionberger scored his first two and Hautala ended the half strong with seven points as the Tigers went into the locker room at the break with the 34-23 lead.
Hautala and McMurtrey did most of the scoring to start the third as they jumped up by 17. A Jackson run pulled the Bronc back within 13 but buckets by McMurtrey, Hautala and free throws by Kramer kept Jackson just out of reach.
The Tigers started the final period with a 14-point advantage and quickly extended it behind the big three, McMurtrey, Hautala and Kramer. A Jackson three stopped the run briefly but Hautala continued to fire as his 15-foot jumper put Rock Springs up 61-44 with four minutes left.
Down put not out, Jackson made one final push but Mikkelsen free throws iced the game and the 65-51 win.
Rock Springs High School
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