Weiser Wolverine boys advance with a win in the District Tournament


The Weiser Wolverine men’s basketball team ended the 2022-23 season with a win against Payette on Tuesday in the consolation bracket. With determination and aggressive play Weiser took the win 52-47. Pictured above Kolin Cook (2) takes a 3-pointer shot in the second half of the win over Payette. Brayden Walker (12) is making a move to get open. Weiser then advanced to play for a chance to advance to state against McCall-Donnelly on Thursday, Feb. 23. The Wolverines were unable to contain the Vandals and took the loss, 57-38. Photo by Michelle Estes
By: 
Michelle Estes
 The boys SRV District Basketball Tournament continued Tuesday, Feb. 21 as the Weiser Wolverines met the Payette Pirates on the road. Both Weiser and Payette had suffered losses earlier in the tournament placing them on the consolation side of the bracket. 
 In a loser out, winner advance game situation, the Weiser Wolverines came out on top, 52-47, surviving to live another day. 
 From the first touch of the ball, Weiser was ready to take down Payette. Brayden Walker put the Wolverines on the board first with a nice one dribble move around his defense at the wing for 2 points.
 Weiser’s Tommy Johnson at the elbow soon found Walker open on a backdoor cut, where Walker sunk a reverse lay-in. 
 Just over halfway to go in the first, Payette tied the game at four all with a nice 3 pointer.
 The Pirates came alive at this point putting up a few buckets. The Wolverines worked hard to answer with free throws. With 7 seconds left Jack Shirts tied the game at 9 with two made free throws. Payette in a fast break, scored right before the buzzer to go up by 2.
 At the end of the first, Weiser 9, Payette 11.
 In the second, the Pirates quickly jumped out to a 6-point lead, Weiser 9, Payette 15. 
 Weiser soon switched the momentum back in their favor. First with a fast break, Kolin Cook made a lay-in. Then Johnson had a big block as he swatted a Pirate shot out of the air. Next on an offensive baseline out of bound play, Malakye Scott found Johnson open for 2. 
 Weiser’s Jack Shirts working hard to get lay-in opportunities was fouled. At the line he made both shots, tying the game at 16.
 Payette soon found the bottom of the net for a bucket. 
 With 18 seconds to go, Cook picked up another steal and was fouled, at the line he added one. 
 With one last chance on offense the Wolverines scored at the buzzer as Scott drove to the bucket, found Carter Jensen open about 11 feet out, Jensen made a beautiful off balance shot giving Weiser the lead at halftime, Weiser 19, Payette 18. 
 It was a battle early in the third. The teams traded buckets and the lead. 
 Weiser started to separate themselves as Scott made a bucket off a steal and fast break. The next play, also a fastbreak situation, Shirts made a bucket, was fouled and sunk his free throw, adding 3 points, and putting Weiser up by 4. After 3 quarters of play Weiser had a 3-point lead, 29 to 26.   
   The Wolverines continued to work well together in the fourth quarter. They created an 8-point lead and a little breathing room off lay-ins from Scott and Cook. Then Shirts found Cook open beyond the arc for a 3 pointer. 
 Shirts soon put up two buckets for Weiser, the first on a back door and pass from Cook, then on a drive into the paint for a lay-in. 
 The Pirates trying to extend their season, sunk a 3 pointer and 2 free throws closing the gap to 3 points. 
 Weiser took control again, gradually increasing their lead to 7 points by the end of the fourth, Weiser 52, Payette 47. 
 With the win Weiser advanced to the next round of the SRV District Tournament. 
 High scorer for Weiser was Scott with 15 points. Shirts right up there added 14. Cook had 12, Walker with 7, Jensen 3, Johnson 2, and Michael Youngberg with 1. 
Scores at the end of quarters:
Weiser Payette
First: 9 11
Second: 19 18     
Third: 29 26
Fourth: 52 47

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Signal American

18 E. Idaho St.
Weiser, ID 83672
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