Girls earn 3 wins in tournament play

This weekend the Lady Wolves basketball team won three games in a row on the road.

The Lady Wolves traveled to Casper for the Casper Invite and played Natrona County, Cody and Laramie during the tournament.

During the Natrona County game, the Lady Wolves came out on top 48-39. This win was one that would go down in the books because it was head coach Rick Carroll’s 300th win as a head basketball coach.

“I’m extremely proud to be associated with such a hard working and great coach. The community of Green River and everyone close to Green River basketball knows how much dedication that coach Carroll puts in to his teaching and coaching,” Green River Athletic Director Tony Beardsley said. “What a tribute to Rick and all of the players, parents and coaches who have been a part of 300 wins: an unbelievably special achievement.”

Carroll was humbled as he graciously accepted the signed basketball.

As for the game itself, Carroll said the Lady Wolves did a good job defensively, were prepared, executed their plays well and won the game through the team’s effort.

“We were very unselfish on offense and did a good job of getting the ball to the open players at the right time,” Carroll said. “We rebounded very well and that led to some easy baskets.”

In the Cody game, the team got off to a slow start on both offense and defense.

“We were not defending the perimeter well and that led to easy three-point looks for Cody and we were not defending well on the post,” Carroll said. “This allowed Cody to jump out to a 18-point lead in the second quarter. We adjusted and had a nice run right before half and put the game back within reach of a win.” 

In the second half, the team picked up its defense and got the win. The team learned they need to play with more constancy all four quarters of the game.

“We learned that the game is never over as long as you continue to work hard,” Carroll said about their come from behind win.

In the game against Laramie, the team moved the ball well and played good defense. However, in the second half of the game they let Laramie get back into it.

“We did not finish well in the second half on offense,” Carroll said. “However we got the win and it was a very successful weekend.”

The team will work on ball control to reduce its turnover amount to prepare for this weeks’ games against Pinedale, Lyman, Mountain View and Montpelier, Idaho, at the Flaming Gorge Classic this weekend.

Leading the team in the Natrona game, was Tayana Crowder with 14 points and three rebounds, followed by Ashelyn Birch with 13 points, 12 rebounds, one assist, four blocks and two steals and Kayde Strauss with nine points, six rebounds and two assists.

Leading the team in the Cody game, was Strauss with 20 points, three rebounds, five assists and one block, followed by Maddie Heiser with 15 points, four rebounds, six assists and one block and Crowder with 12 points, 10 rebounds and two assists.

Leading the team in the Laramie game, was Birch with 20 points, 12 rebounds and one assist, Heiser with 10 points, four rebounds, seven assists, one block and three steals and Strauss with nine points, eight rebounds, seven assists, one block and one steal.