GREEN RIVER – It was a start to the season that had Green River fans talking as the Wolves and Lady Wolves opened perfect with both coming home with Bridger Valley Tournament titles. On Thursday, the hot start continued for both teams.
The Wolves had a challenge as they opened the Flaming Gorge Classic with two games on Thursday. First up was Pinedale who entered with a 2-1 record. The Wolves led the entire way but the Wranglers made in interesting. The Wolves jumped out to a 13-9 with both teams struggling to hang on to the ball.
Green River cut the turnovers down in the second and picked it up on the defensive end. They held Pinedale to only seven second-quarter points to extend the lead. At the break, the Wolves took a nine-point lead, 25-16.
Gavin Heiser hit a three to get the second half started and Cameron Morris attacked the basket for most of the second half as Green River went up double digits. Pinedale came back at the end of the half to cut the lead back to nine, 35-26.
In the fourth, both teams started to heat up. A three by Heiser and an old fashion three by Dakota Wingard put the Wolves up 47-34. Green River missed several free throws and a couple of three pointers made it interesting late but the Wolves held on for the win, 54-45.
In the second game, the Wolves faced Grace, Idaho in what was a close contest throughout. Grace led by one after one and the teams were even at the break at 26. Another even third quarter had the teams locked up after three at 46. The Wolves were finally able to pull away to start the fourth and went up as many as 11 behind Devin Love but let Grace back in. A three at the buzzer sent the game into overtime.
The Wolves never recovered as Grace pulled away late handing the Wolves their first loss of the season, 75-65. Devin Love finished with 18 points against Grace with all his points coming in the second half. Dakota Wingard had another solid game with 12 points and nine rebounds.
On the ladies side, Green River struggled out of the gate against Rawlins. The Lady Wolves trailed by ten after one but solid defense brought the ladies back in the second. They would outscore Rawlins, 16-8 in the second and only trailed by two at the break, 24-22.
Taylor Stoeger and Madelyn Heiser heated up the second half behind more strong defense. Rawlins only scored nine points in the third while the Lady Wolves exploded for 21 to take a 10-point lead after three, 43-33. Green River and Stoeger continued to hit in the fourth while Mallory Seymour added key buckets as the ladies remained perfect on the year with the 58-50 win.
Stoeger finished with a team-high 30 points while both Heiser and Seymour also finished in double figures in the win.
The Wolves will face a tough, Northridge, Utah, team on Friday at 4 p.m. while the Lady Wolves will play twice. They open with Star Valley at 1 p.m. and close with defending 3A state champs Worland at 6 p.m.
Green River High School
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