ROCK SPRINGS – Sometimes in basketball it is not always about the win/loss record but when a team hits its peak. There have been many cases where a team has struggled during the season but puts it all together right before tournament time to make a run at a title.
While the conference season has not been the start the Western Wyoming Community College basketball teams had hoped for, there is still time for the teams to get back on track before the Region IX Tournament.
The teams have a busy weekend at home with games on both Friday and Saturday. On Friday, the ladies get underway at 5:30 p.m. at Rushmore Floor followed by the men.
For the Lady Mustangs, they currently have a 2-4 record in conference and 5-17 overall. The ladies face Sheridan on Friday in the second meeting of the two teams. Western is coming off a loss to Central in a very close contest, 56-49.
In the Central game, the ladies of Western trailed by only four at half and had opportunities to grab the win but just could not break through. The Mustangs had a balanced scoring attack with two players scoring eight points and four with six points each.
It hasn’t been that long since the first meeting between the two teams. On Jan. 17, Sheridan defeated Western 70-52. The Mustangs only trailed by eight at the half but were outscored in the second half in the loss. Ashley Chestnut and Tia Tiller each had nine to lead Western in the first game. Sheridan had three players in double figures and Western will have to do a much better job defensively on Tiana Hanson who torched them for 25 points and 14 rebounds in the first battle.
While statistically both teams were even in game one, the biggest difference was in field-goal percentage. From the field, Sheridan shot 39 percent while the Mustangs only hit 26 percent of theirs.
On Saturday, the ladies will host Gillette who will be hunting for revenge as Western pulled the upset on Gillette’s home court. In that game, Western was able to get out to a quick start and was able to hold it. The ladies took a 30-19 lead at the half and held on for the 61-56 win.
The Mustangs had another balanced scoring attack led by Alisa Petersen who finished with 13. Sadie Mortensen had 12 while KC Gubler finished with 10. Whitney George led Gillette in game one with 15 points. Statistically, both teams mirrored each other in the first game.
Mustang Men
After getting off to a 2-0 start in conference play, the Mustangs have slipped in the past four games going 1-3. All season the talk has been hold home court and try to get a win on the road. Western is 3-0 at home and 0-3 on the road in conference play.
The Mustangs are on a little high coming off a win in a hard fought game over Central last Saturday, 75-65. Against Central, WWCC had four players in double figures led by Isaiah Parros who finished with 15. Dimitri Saliba had a solid all-around game with 14 points, eight rebounds and three assists. Jarred Laws had 11 while Tyler Wells finished with 10 in the win.
The men will also be facing Sheridan for the second time this season on Friday. Sheridan was able to take a close one in the first meeting, 73-66. Both teams were even at 29 at the break but Sheridan got the best of them in the second half.
The Mustangs will be looking for a similar performance from Stefan Wright who had his season’s best in the first meeting. Wright finished with 16 points while also grabbing 10 boards. Laws and Saliba both scored in double figures while Parros just missed a triple double finishing with nine points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.
Western will be focusing on Pablo Rivas who had 19 points for Sheridan in the game one win. Sheridan had more turnovers and were out-rebounded in the first game while the Mustangs also had more steals. The difference was shooting as Sheridan hit 52 percent from the field.
On Saturday, it will be game two with Gillette. The first meeting with Gillette was very similar to the Sheridan game. Western trailed by one at the half before letting it slip away in the second losing by a final of 66-59.
Parros had 15 points, 10 rebounds and four assists in the game one loss while Gillette’s Kavell Bigby-Williams and Quinton Everett combined for 31 points in the win.
Labor Night
It is Labor Night on Saturday as the United Steelworkers Locals 13214 and 15320 will sponsor the annual event beginning at 3 p.m.
There will be free admission to the women’s and men’s basketball games versus Gillette College. Hot dogs, popcorn, candy, and beverages will also be free. Prizes will be given away during the course of the games.
“It’s a good day to bring the entire family out to campus and watch some great college basketball,” said WWCC Athletic Director Lu Sweet. “Please mark your calendars for this event.”
