Lovell, Rocky freshmen do battle as season nears end

The Rocky Mountain Lady Grizz freshman squad wrapped up the regular season with a loss to Lovell in Lovell Monday, while the freshman boys played at Wyoming Indian Saturday and hosted Lovell Monday.

The Lady Grizzlies took it on the chin at Lovell Monday, falling 51-12. The Lady Grizz struggled to score and trailed 10-0 after the first quarter, 20-5 at halftime and 35-5 after three. Charlee Welling scored 5 points, Halle Grandalen 4 and Kennedy Brimhall 3.

Ali Walker scored 16 for Lovell, Ava Edwards 15, Avery Walker 9, Caylee Herman 8 and Jaycie Allen 3.

“Last night’s game was a tough one for us,” coach Jamie Cooley said Tuesday. “It was hard for us to get any momentum going. I didn’t do a great job bringing energy or motivation for our girls last night, and in turn our girls played with no energy. We all had heavy hearts, and as much as we tried to get lost in the game, we just didn’t get it done.

“When we were able to get our offense going we were able to get some good looks at the hoop, but nothing would fall our way. Our posts were doubled when the ball would go inside, making it hard for them to work in the key. Our guards were able to take some good shots, but we just couldn’t get anything to go in. Lovell had a great night of shooting. I don’t think they missed much.

“I can’t say this enough: We have a great group of girls, and I am so proud of how hard they have worked this season.”

“The girls came out ready to play,” Lovell coach Gretchen Walker said. “We set some team goals before the game, and they executed really well. It was a great night from behind the three-point line, which is always fun.”

Freshman boys

The RMHS freshman boys stopped Wyoming Indian 59-35 Saturday in Ethete but fell to Lovell Monday at home, 53-28

The Grizz came out on fire at Ethete Saturday and outscored Wyoming Indian 18-9 in the first quarter as Cooper Ward and Kreegan Jones scored 6 points each. They continued to pull away, outscore the Chiefs 41-26 the rest of the way.

Ward finished with 12 points, Leland Hetland 10, Paul Seratt 8, Gary Gardner and Jones 7 each, Jaxon Miller and Travis Crosby 6 apiece and Jaxon Hayes 3. Hetland snared 10 rebounds for a double-double.

“This was a great game for everyone,” coach Taylor Winland said. “It was a different style of basketball than what we were used to, but the boys adjusted and played well. The boys had a lot of fun, and it was good for them to experience Chiefs basketball.”

Monday at home, the Grizzlies were as cold as the chill outside and couldn’t keep up with Lovell in a 53-28 loss.

The game was close early, with Lovell leading 16-12 after the first quarter, but the Grizz struggled in the second quarter, outscored 16-2, to trail 32-14 at halftime. Lovell also won the second half 21-14.

Evin Clendenen led the Grizzlies with 13 points and eight rebounds, and Hayes added 7 points, Seratt 4 and Ward and Hetland 2 apiece.

Grant Hill scored 15 points for Lovell, Dallin Bischoff 7, Kelvin Robertson, Tyler Knowles and Aaiden Walker 6 each, Anthony Garcia 5, Kyson Crosby 4 and Kade Durtsche and Gage Pillow 2 apiece.

Now 8-2, the Grizzlies will conclude the season by traveling to Basin Tuesday to meet the Riverside Rebels at 6:15 p.m.

LHS girls

The Lovell freshman girls fell to Worland 49-44 last Tuesday, Feb. 4, before clobbering Rocky Mountain Monday. Worland built a 36-21 halftime lead before the Lady Bulldogs stormed back, outscoring the Lady Warriors 23-13 in the second half, only to fall short.

Edwards led the Lady Bulldogs with 14 points, and Avery Walker added 11, Ali Walker 9, Herman 8 and Weber 2.

“It was a tale of two halves,” coach Walker said. “Worland really came out aggressive, and we didn’t have much of an answer in the first half. We made some adjustments at halftime, and the girls ran a defense they’ve never used before. I was so proud of how they battled back in the second half. We came back within three but couldn’t quite finish.”

The Lady Bulldogs played at Powell
Tuesday night and will host Greybull Monday at 6:15 p.m.