It was an absolute dog fight at Marsing

What happens when a Wolverine and a Husky meet each other? It’s a dog fight and this game between Weiser and Marsing on Friday, Dec. 20 in Marsing was a humdinger of a game. Well, a track meet might be more accurate when you consider the final score, 91-81 Weiser. This game was never a sure thing and Weiser did not have much of a lead until under a minute to play but why spoil the fun. Read on. The frosh/soph team won 52-37 and the JV won 59-21.

 Two things plagued the varsity, turnovers and fouls. Both teams had that same problem, however. Marsing stayed in the game by employing a full court pressure defense nearly the entire game but by the fourth quarter, Weiser found a way to break it behind the senior leadership of point guard Kolin Cook. 

 Cook would score 28 points by sheer will it appeared and fellow senior Josh Mizar was sinking enough threes to be high scorer at 31 points. Cook scored the first Weiser basket off an offensive rebound that went long, sinking a three point shot. Weiser built a little lead 12-4 off shots by Garrett Walker, Mizar and a big three by Owen Funke. Mizar would sink a three, 15-7. This is the point where Marsing went into that pressure defense and roared back to trail by just one, 15-14. Back and forth the game went with buckets being made by G. Walker and Mizar. At the end of the first, Weiser led 24-20.

 The entire second quarter was unsure as the teams traded leads several times. Brayden Nordgren would hit a three in this quarter. Weiser scored 17 points with several Wolverines putting the ball through the hoop. 

 An example of excellent team work was Mizar to Nordgren to Shayd Crossley driving the baseline only to hand the ball off to Grant Walker who made the shot. At half time, Weiser 41, Marsing 35.

 In the third quarter, Weiser was leading with a fairly decent score at 53-43. Marsing went to the full court defense and turnovers for Weiser were all over the place. Marsing pulled to within a point 53-52. Mizar drained a three to spread that gap a bit. Cook with a great fake pass kept the ball and went soaring to the basket for two, 58-53 W. With a quarter to play, Weiser led 60-55.

 Hold on to your hats for this final quarter. Weiser scored 31 points in this quarter but the game wasn’t a sure thing until under a minute to play. There were three turnovers and a missed shot before either team scored and it wasn’t us. Cook was fouled making his second free throw. Weiser was also fouling and Marsing was making their free throws, 61-57 W. A couple more free throws by them and it was 61-60 W at 6:36 to play. Cook with determination made his shot, 63-60 W. Marsing caught up via the charity strip, 63-62 W. Isai Herrera took down an “O” rebound and muscled his way for the basket, 65-62 W. Mizar to Garrett Walker to S. Crossley on the baseline for a three, 68-64 W. Cook hit a shot and S. Crossley sank two free throws to lead 72-66. Marsing nailed their own free throws, 72-70 W. 

 Less than three minutes to play. Weiser inbound the ball to Cook on Marsing’s end of the court. Cook took off dribbling all the way for the little dink shot, the foul and the made free throw, 75-70 W. Mizar sank a baseline three and then hit another three, 81-74. Weiser was going to the foul line and did quite well there. 

 At 1:12, the score stood Weiser 83, Marsing 79 with Marsing breathing hard down our necks. Marsing scored, 83-81 W. Funke to S. Crossley to Mizar for the lay-in, the foul and the made free throw, 86-81. This is when our boys took over the game making free throws and never looked back winning 91-81. 

 It’s of note that near the end, Karsten Walker took a charge that could have been a foul but that really put a charge in the fans.

  Scoring: Mizar 31, Cook 28, Garrett Walker 10, S. Crossley 9, Funke 6, Nordgren 3, Grant Walker and Herrera 2 each.