Weiser basketball boys end their season after a solid run in the District Tourney

 On Thursday, Feb. 23, in the final round of the tournament, Weiser travelled to McCall facing the Vandals, where the winner advanced to the state play-in game with the loser out. 

 The Wolverines were unable to contain the Vandals, losing 38 to 57, ending their season. 

 The first quarter proved to be tight as both teams struggled to get the ball to fall. 

 The Wolverines led at the midway point, up 5 to 2 with 3:40 to go. After multiple attempts, the Vandals made a 3 pointer, tying the game at 5 all. 

 McCall quickly added a bucket to go up by 2. 

 Under 30 seconds to play, Weiser’s Braden Phillips made a good move at the block, tying the game at 7 all. 

 Neither team would score again, the first quarter ended at 7 all. 

 The first minutes of the second was all McCall. They drained a 3 pointer, added a rebound put back, made another bucket, sunk another 3 pointer, and then put in two more buckets, before Weiser was able to score.

 With 3:55 to go in the second, Kolin Cook picked up an assist with a pass to Malakye Scott for a deep 3 beyond the arc, Weiser 12, McCall 21.

 Brayden Walker soon scored 2 for Weiser with a bucket in transition. 

 In the final 2 minutes of the half, the Wolverines slowed the Vandal’s scoring. At the end of 2 quarters of play it was Weiser 14, McCall 24. 

 The Wolverines had a long talk at the break and had to hustle onto the court as the third was starting and McCall was lined up ready to go.

 Weiser struck gold early in the third with teamwork and multiple buckets. 

 Jack Shirts struck first with a move around his defense and a bank shot. Tommy Johnson battling for boards secured a defensive rebound. Two minutes into the third, Scott drained a deep 3 from an inside out pass from Walker. Next trip to defense, Johnson knocked the ball loose, Cook picked it up and passed it up court to a fast-breaking Scott where he made his lay-in, Weiser 21, McCall 24. 

 McCall wisely called a timeout to adjust. For the next 5 minutes of the third, McCall racked up points as Weiser struggled to get good shots off. 

 With 30 seconds remaining in the third, Weiser’s Walker added a bucket off a 1 dribble move at the baseline with the help of a nice screen by Philips. Before the end of the third Walker was able to find the bottom of the net one more time. 

 After 3 quarters of play, Weiser 25, McCall 41. 

 The fourth opened with multiple missed opportunities and turnovers by both teams. 

 Then McCall started hitting their shots, increasing their lead. 

 With 5:40 to go, Weiser scored off a 3 from Scott.  A couple of minutes later, Scott found Walker open beyond the arc on a baseline inbounds play for another 3. 

 Weiser rounded out their scoring off a post move from Johnson and a deep 3 from Walker. 

 Weiser closed their season with a 38-57 loss to McCall.   

 The Wolverines were led by Scott with 16 points. Walker and Shirts both added 7 a piece. Johnson, Youngberg, and Philips all contributed 4 points and Cook had 3.

Scores at the end of quarters:

Weiser McCall

First: 7 7

Second: 14 24

Third: 25 41

Fourth: 38 57