Boys go into Regionals with 3 wins

With their last home game Friday night, the Green River High School boys basketball team now prepare for the regional tournament and a battle for a chance to play at State.

The boys will travel to Cody for the tournament, which starts Thursday. The Wolves, seeded No. 3 south, will take on the Rock Springs Tigers in their first game at 8 p.m. The Wolves have enjoyed a great deal of success when they’ve taken on the Tigers this season. They’ve defeated Rock Springs twice, winning 83-51 in their first meeting and 77-53 last week during the annual Make-A-Wish game in Rock Springs.

“We are heading into regionals with a positive mindset,” head coach Laurie Ivie said.  “We are entering after a rivalry win against Rock Springs and a double overtime win against Star Valley. I could not think of a better way to head into tournament.”

Against Rock Springs, Ivie said she talked to the boys about increasing ball pressure, saying the team picks up a lot of energy and pick up the pace when they press.

“When we compete hard on defense, it makes good things happen for us on the offensive side of the court as well,” she said.

Chase Stoeger scored 23 points and nine rebounds during the Rock Springs game. Ivie said Stoeger is the team’s leader and made some phenomenal plays during the game. She said Haden Counts also made some phenomenal plays against Rock Springs, recording 14 points and seven steals.

“He does big things for us in the press,” Ivie said.

She said Matthew Seymour shot for 18 points and Grant Cobb, also scoring in the double digits, earned 11 points.

During Friday’s win against Star Valley, the game went into double overtime, with the Wolves ultimately overcoming the Braves 76-67.

Ivie said the game culminated with an emotional finish for the team’s seniors. She said the boys played with “guts and grit” throughout the game and the two overtimes. Ivie said Chase Merrell stepped up during the Wolves game with Star Valley, earning 18 points and making four of five shots from the three-point line. He also made eight rebounds.

“(He) really played hard all game,” she said.