The Lady Wolverines add win on senior night

The Weiser Lady Wolverines hosted the Payette Pirates on Tuesday, Jan. 28, as Weiser honored their seniors: Kailee Lerew, Hailey Eames, Lucy Hickey, Jordan Stromberg, Ashlynn Strasser, and statistician Mushtariy Erkinova.

 The Wolverines quickly turned defensive stops into points, taking an early lead of 10-0 halfway through the first quarter. Eames scored the first points with a fast break cut to the basket, receiving a nice pass from Ellie Shirts for a layup. Stromberg then added a basket, and Shirts showcased her defensive skills with a steal that she converted into a coast-to-coast layup.

 Shirts soon passed the ball across the key to Stromberg, who made a jumper from 17 feet out. As the quarter progressed, Eames tipped a rebound out to Shirts, who took the ball to the hoop.

 It took a couple of minutes for the Wolverines to score again, as Evie Dolton picked up a steal, dribbled down the court, and made a great pass to Lerew for another layup. With less than a minute remaining in the first quarter, the Pirates made a couple of trips to the free-throw line, hitting 3 of 4 shots.

 At the end of the first quarter, the score was 12-3 in favor of Weiser.

 Shirts went on a scoring run early in the second quarter, starting with a three-pointer assisted by Eames. She followed this with a steal that she converted into a layup and then hit another 3-pointer after being assisted by Stromberg.

 On their next offensive possession, Shirts passed the ball to Stromberg for a layup. Almost three and a half minutes into the second quarter, Payette made their first field goal of the night, followed by a 3-pointer on their next possession.

 In response, Lerew went on a 8 to 2 scoring run for Weiser. Lerew dribbled up near the sideline; while Eames was guarded down low, she took the opportunity to strike first with a beautiful 22-foot 3-pointer. Lerew continued her scoring run with a drive to the basket, stepping through the defense for another layup. A couple of minutes later, she grabbed a long offensive rebound in the corner and  drained another 3-pointer. 

 After two quarters of play, Weiser led 31-13.

 The Wolverines opening bucket of the second half came from Eames. Shirts at the wing made a nice pass to Eames at the top beyond the arc, where she drained a sweet 3-pointer. A couple of minutes into the third quarter, Dolton made a solid hook shot just outside the key, and Lerew hit yet another 3-pointer.

 After a 14-point quarter for Weiser, the score was 45-20 in favor of the Wolverines.

 In the first 3 minutes of the fourth, Payette made a free throw while Weiser added a free throw from Shirts and a lay-in from Lerew. With 4:52 remaining in the game, Shirts drove in, stopped, and kicked the ball out to Sophia Shirts in the corner for a 3-pointer. This bucket put Weiser up by 30 points, triggering a running clock. Soon after, Stromberg recorded her own 3-pointer after receiving a pass from Lerew.

 With the running clock, the game quickly concluded with Weiser winning 60-26. 

 The Wolverines were led by Lerew with 21 points. Stromberg contributed 13 points, Shirts had 12, Eames added 8, Sophia Shirts scored 3, Dolton contributed 2, and Natalya Hoobery added 1 point.

 Scores at the end of quarters:

Weiser Payette

1st: 12 3

2nd: 31 13     

3rd: 45 20

4th: 60 26