Wolverines pick up two wins in the Parma tourney

by Michelle Estes   
 Weiser men’s varsity basketball team played in the Parma Christmas Tournament on Dec. 29, 30, and 31.
Tuesday, Dec. 29
Weiser lost 34, Teton 44
 Playing the Teton Timberwolves from Eastern Idaho, Weiser won the tip-off and controlled the ball for the first 1:15 until Sam Kerner, Weiser, sunk a three-pointer.
 Two minutes in, Teton scored their first bucket of the night. Then the Wolverines went on a scoring run with 12 unanswered points, forcing Teton to use timeouts.
 With just under two minutes left in the first, Teton went to the line where they added one point, Weiser 15, Teton 3.
 The Timberwolves woke up and with a full court press they were able to go on their own scoring run. End of the first, Weiser 15, Teton 9.   
 Teton continued on their run opening the second quarter with seven unanswered points.
 Wolverine Brett Spencer hit a deep three-pointer tying the game at 18. Next trip down the court, Evan Haggerty of Weiser was fouled on a rebound. At the line he made both free throws.
 Spencer scored another three to end the half, Weiser 23, Teton 18.
 Coming out of the locker room, Teton hit a three-pointer. On the defensive end they had a steal and took it the length of the court tying the game at 23.
 The Timberwolves capitalized on Wolverine turnovers and with 5:30 left, Teton had a six-point lead.
 The score stayed the same for the next two minutes until Teton made a couple quick buckets and Weiser added a three-pointer by Eli Ruiz. The third ended Weiser 28, Teton 37.
 Weiser was unable to close the gap in the fourth quarter with the teams swapping buckets.
 With 5:45 left Weiser’s Ray Calley cut hard to the middle making a turn-around jumper on an assist from Spencer bringing Weiser within eight.
 The Wolverines ended the game behind by ten, Weiser 34, Teton 44.
Wednesday, Dec. 30
Weiser wins 52,
Payette 30
 Playing the Payette Pirates, the Wolverines picked up their first win of the season.   
 The Wolverines got on the board first with a three-pointer by Spencer.
 It took a few minutes for Payette to get comfortable and score. Then the teams swapped buckets with nobody gaining a lead.
 The Wolverines had a spark of life with about a minute and half left, as Levi Estes fought for a rebound and added two. In a full court press, Willy Shirts stole the ball and drove in for a bucket. Trying to stop Shirts, Payette goal tended.
 The first ended Weiser 13, Payette 11.
 The clock ticked down quickly in the second. Both teams had multiple trips up and down the court with sporadic scoring.
 With 1:45 left Spencer drove to the hoop and made a lay-in giving Weiser a five-point lead.
 It was short lived when Weiser didn’t hustle back, allowing the Pirates to score an easy bucket.
 Under a minute left in the half, Ruiz cut to the elbow, scoring off a pass from Spencer. Going into the locker room the Wolverines were up 24-20.
 The Wolverines took control of the game in the third, gradually increasing their lead with defensive stops and converting in their offense. At the end of the third, Weiser 32, Payette 23.
 The fourth quarter, Weiser had fun. Weiser’s Brayden Walker got hot, hitting a baseline three-pointer with just over six minutes left to play. Next trip down Walker hit another three, increasing the Wolverine lead to 19. Weiser won 52-30.
Thursday, Dec. 31
Weiser wins in OT 55,
Skyview 51
 For their final game the Wolverines played the Skyview Hawks. It was fast paced with both teams filling the gym with loud cheers and it seemed as if there was a crowd in the stands.
 The Hawks scored first. At the other end, Weiser struggled to get their first points. After five shots and five offensive rebounds, Tyler Pope made a jump shot.
 On back to back trips down the court, Spencer hit two three-pointers.
   Under a minute left in the first, Estes passed the ball inside to Shirts where he was fouled on the made basket. Making the free throw, he gave Weiser the lead. At the end of the first, Weiser 14, Skyview 13.
 In the second, Weiser was unable to put the ball in the hoop. Skyview jumped out to a five-point lead.
 Two minutes in Weiser took a timeout. On the inbounds play, Ruiz sunk a three on an assist from Shirts.
 The Wolverines were on the move tying the game at 19 with a steal and bucket by Ruiz.     
 Less than two minutes left in the half, Shirts set a screen for Kerner and rolled to the basket. Kerner passed to Shirts for an easy two points. At the half  the score was Weiser 24, Skyview 28.
 Neither team was willing to give up and stayed neck to neck for the rest of the game.
 A few minutes into the third, on a baseline inbounds, Ruiz found Kerner for a three-pointer.
 With three minutes left on defense, Spencer stole the ball taking it to the hoop bringing Weiser within two.
 Calley gave Weiser the lead with a fast break jumper outside the arc ending the third Weiser 37, Skyview 34.
 In the fourth, the teams continued with their intense defense where they each had to work hard to score.
 Skyview struck first with two scores. Shirts answered with a jump shot just inside the arc.
 With almost two minutes gone, Calley found Estes on a hard cut, with a reverse lay-in.
 The fourth went quick. With only 30 seconds left and down by one, Weiser had the ball. After working their offense, Evan Haggerty found himself open at the three-point line with 16 seconds remaining. Making the three, Weiser now had a two-point lead.
 Skyview brought the ball up to half court and called a timeout with four seconds left. On the sideline inbounds play they fumbled the ball. Skyview secured the ball and were able to score tying the game at 48 at the end of regulation.
 A minute into overtime, Haggerty found Pope open at the elbow to score the first points, never to give the lead back.
 Skyview was able to pick up a three-pointer under two minutes left, their only points in overtime.
   With lots of excitement Weiser controlled overtime, winning 55-51.