Lady Wolverines end district play with commanding win over Fruitland

The Lady Wolverines have had a fabulous basketball season. The games have been exciting with great defense and lots of scoring. Their final game in the Snake River Valley Conference tournament lived up to expectations.
 Weiser hosted the Fruitland Grizzlies in the consolation championship game on Thursday, Feb. 11. The Wolverines came out on top by a sizable spread, winning by 35 points, 72 to 37.
 In the first four minutes of the first the teams matched up well with multiple lead changes.
 Half way in the Wolverines took control of the game. Jasi Yraguen with a strong rebound, put it back up and in for two, tying the game at six.
 Weiser with a full court press put tremendous pressure on Fruitland who struggled to get into their offense.
 With just under two minutes to go in the first, Jenifer Juarez had a nice steal in the press. She was able to pass the ball up the court to Yraguen and then cut to the basket where Yraguen hit her in the key for a lay-in.
 The first ended with a steal and fast break by Weiser’s Maddy Erickson. Making the bucket at the buzzer, Weiser was up 20-12 at the end of the first.
 Weiser started the second quarter on fire and never relented.
 With barely 20 seconds off the clock, Ivy Morris delivered the ball to Erickson on the baseline for two.
 With a defensive stop, Weiser had the ball back. Mattie Shirts, who had a remarkable game, snagged a rebound kicked it out to Erickson for two more.
 Erickson was able to score on the next three trips on offense for the Wolverines.
 Shirts then received a nice assist from Erickson allowing her to add two for Weiser.
 Weiser’s 12 point scoring run had Fruitland on their heels struggling to find an answer. That finally came five minutes in when Fruitland scored their first points of the third quarter on a deep three-pointer.
 Erickson capped off her scoring rampage with a three-pointer to end the half, Weiser 37, Fruitland 17.
 The third quarter opened with Tobie Noyer finding Erickson on the far block for two points.
 About 30 seconds later, Erickson with a steal, passed the ball up court to Noyer on a fast break, giving Weiser a 24 point lead.
 Fruitland playing tougher defense was able to slow Weiser’s scoring a little, but were unable to stop it.
 With a couple minutes remaining, Jenifer Juarez came in from a rest and quickly added two buckets.
 The third ended with Weiser 53, Fruitland 24.
 Fruitland continued to battle to the end and never gave up, but Weiser stayed strong adding 19 additional points in the fourth quarter.  
 Multiple Wolverines played solid basketball and working as a team they capitalized on each athlete’s strengths.  
 Shirts dominated the boards accumulating 18 total rebounds.
 Erickson who never lost focus had an enormous game, scoring 37 points, 13 of which came in the second quarter.    
 Yraguen had a great game and a nice contribution of 11 points. Jenifer Juarez playing solid added 10 of her own.
 Wolverine scoring rounded out with Noyer six, Shirts four, Macey Maloney two, Morris one, and Rhianna Soliz one.
 The win advanced the Wolverines to the state play-in game which was played on Saturday, Feb. 13 in Grangeville against Bonners Ferry. Weiser lost the game 51-40, ended their season.