Lady Wolverines pummel Lady Pirates 67-34

The Tom Falash Gymnasium at Weiser High School was filled to the brim last week for the final regular season game for the Lady Wolverines against the visiting Payette Pirates.  
 It was also the last game on the home court for five senior players and their senior statistician. Weiser fans came out in force to honor the Class of 2020 players: Marissa Moyle, Alex Bittinger, Andrea Bouvia, Madison Phillips, Macy Moore and team statistician, Judith Rios.
 The Weiser ladies did not disappoint their loyal fans and picked up a 67-34 conference win over the Pirates.
 Head coach Laraine Skow started the game with all five of her senior players and during the first two minutes of the game the Lady Wolverines allowed the Pirates to possess the basketball for less than 20 seconds.  
 The Lady Wolverines exhibited good ball movement, searching for the open shot and Madison Phillips found a good look, getting the Wolverines on the scoreboard first 2-0.  
 The Pirates were able to tie the score with a pair of free throws and briefly pull ahead with a basket, but a pair of back-to-back steals by Phillips led to feeds to both Maddy Erickson and Andrea Bouvia for the fastbreak lay-ins and the 6-4 lead.  
 The Wolverines continued to play patient basketball for the remainder of the first quarter, moving the ball and swinging the defense until a shot opportunity became available, crashing the boards and working for the put back.  
 A pair of Wolverine missed shots inside the paint had three Wolverines working for the rebound and Tobie Noyer managed to get the basket, followed by a big 3-pointer from Marissa Moyle. With mere seconds left in the period, Erickson had success with a jumper on the baseline, giving the Wolverines a 13-6 first quarter lead.
 A quick foul in the first 20 seconds of the second quarter allowed the Pirates 2 points, but a nice move by Mattie Shirts inside the paint countered the Pirates scoring. A Pirate found a gap in the Wolverine defense for a lay-up, but Erickson made up for the defensive lapse with a big 3-point bucket and a pair of free throws to take a 20-10 lead with six and a half minutes still remaining in the quarter.  
 Ivy Morris was on fire during the period with a long jumper on the baseline and two 3-point baskets that were well beyond the arc.  
 The Lady Wolverines continued to play their fast-paced game and adding to their lead every chance they got and at the halftime break the Wolverines had a commanding 41-19 lead over the Pirates.
 The offensive surge for the Wolverines slowed slightly during the third quarter, but 4 points each from both Bouvia and Erickson, a basket and a free throw from Noyer and another 3-pointer at the buzzer from Morris was still enough to outscore the struggling Pirates 14-8, expanding the Wolverine lead to 55-27.
 Shirts grabbed a big rebound and the putback in the first 30 seconds of the fourth quarter, giving the Wolverines a 30-point (57-27) lead over the Pirates and prompting a running clock for the duration of the contest.  
 Despite the commanding lead and the impending win to their credit, the Wolverines continued to work hard, getting the rebounds, moving the ball and looking for quality shots.  
 Shirts added another rebound and basket to her tally, followed by a nice feed inside to Moyle from Bouvia for the basket.  Phillips saw Noyer down court on the inbounds and seized the opportunity with a long pass and the lay-in.  
 Noyer grabbed another rebound and the put back with mere seconds on the clock and the Wolverines took the win 67-34.
 Maddy Erickson led the Wolverines with 21 points, followed by Ivy Morris and Tobie Noyer with 11 points apiece. Mattie Shirts had 8 points and 14 rebounds, while Marissa Moyle also had 8 points. Andrea Bouvia contributed 6 points and Madison Phillips added 2 points.
 The Lady Wolverines will begin their post-season play in the Snake River Valley Conference (SRV) Tournament on Thursday at Treasure Valley Community College in Ontario, Ore. Plan to attend and support the Lady Wolverines in their quest for a berth in the 3A Idaho State basketball Tournament in Middleton on Feb. 20-22.