Can you spell UPSET

  Weiser came prepared and determined to play their best night of basketball on the season. Fruitland hosted Weiser in a District – stay alive – game on Tuesday, February 24, 2026. I’m not sure mere words can describe this game. The teamwork by Weiser was incredible! Weiser built a lead in the first quarter and despite Fruitland’s best efforts to control the game, it just wasn’t going to happen. Weiser never gave up the lead from about the five minute mark in the first quarter. The two teams split their games during the regular season. Weiser, however, had more losses, therefore were seeded lower. Weiser won the game 60-53 and earned the right to play McCall for a chance at the State tournament.

  Fruitland would score first. Ryker Enders to Owen Funke for a three, 3-2 W. Fruitland regained the lead 4-3 momentarily. Michael Strasser to Funke for his second three and the lead 6-4. Garrett Walker banked home a shot. Zayn Crossley to Strasser for the bucket, 10-6. Strasser stole the ball and finished with an acrobatic shot, 12-7. Fruitland would come within a point of Weiser a couple of times throughout this contest but never had the lead. On the fast break, Funke to Shayd Crossley for the two, 14-11. Brayden Nordgren had a block! S. Crossley with the “O” rebound put back. At the end of the first, Weiser 16, Fruitland 12.

  In the second quarter, there were lots of missed shots with the team shooting grabbing multiple “O” rebounds. The rims had a lid on both ends of the court. It was fast and furious. Funke put back an “O” rebound, 18-15. Garrett Walker to Enders for a three, 21-17. Garrett Walker with his own bucket, 23-20. S. Crossley with the “O” rebound pass to Strasser for a three, 26-22. Funke hit a jumper, 28-25. That’s where the score stood at half time.

  A couple of trips into the third quarter, Garrett Walker was fouled and was perfect from the charity stripe, 30-25. Garrett Walker with the soft touch for two, 32-27. Garrett Walker drained a three point shot only to have Fruitland score back to back, 35-31. Funke put an end to that nonsense with a three, 38-31. Funke to Garrett Walker to Grant Walker for the reversed shot, 40-33. Fruitland wanted a time out at 3:27. Garrett Walker was fouled and made both free throws only to have the last one waved off due to a lane violation. Strasser with the bounce pass to S. Crossley for the basket, 43-35. Fruitland was fast off defensive rebounds (called fast breaks for a reason). Strasser to S. Crossley to Grant Walker for two, 45-37. Funke made a free throw, 46-37. Weiser had a quarter to go to keep their state run alive.

  Weiser’s defense was reeking havoc on Fruitland. They had a lot of turnovers. Conversely, Fruitland’s busy hands were forcing Weiser turnovers. Do you think this game mattered? (Rhetorical question) Fruitland scored first on a pair of free throws. Z. Crossley busted it open on a steal and an uncontested lay in, 48-40. Fruitland rallied hard. Garrett Walker with the hoop, 50-45. Fruitland scored a three at 3:41, 50-48 W. Grant Walker to S. Crossely for two, 52-48. Grant Walker to Strasser for two more, 54-48. Fruitland called time out at 1:55.

  It’s going to take an entire paragraph to describe this last two minutes. Fruitland scored immediately after the time out, 54-50. Weiser missed two shots. Fruitland scored a point off a free throw, 54-51 with 54.2 seconds to play. Funke through the key for an elevated two. Fruitland scored on a fast break, 56-53. Fruitland called time out at 26.2 seconds. Weiser had five fouls so Fruitland was in the bonus. Fruitland had not committed a foul in the quarter. Weiser had the ball under Fruitland’s basket and had to get it in. Fruitland fouled, team foul 1. The clock was barely moving. Fruitland fouled five times in a row taking the clock to 20.2. Coach Ron Shirts had a great plan and that was to get the ball into Grant Walker’s hands on that fifth foul. Grant Walker calmly sank two free throws, 58-53. Fruitland shot, missed with S. Crossley snagging the rebound. He was fouled but missed his free throws. More importantly, he grabbed his own rebound and was fouled again. This time, he sank both shots. Weiser savored the win 60-53.

  Scoring: Funke 16, Garrett Walker 14, S. Crossley 10, Strasser 9, Grant Walker 6, Enders 3 and Z. Crossley 2.