Weiser girls basketball win Parma Holiday Tournament

After three days of basketball the Wolverines come out as Champions defeating Kimberly

 After three long days of basketball, the Lady Wolverines brought home the Parma Holiday Tournament title after taking down Vallivue, American Falls, and then the 3A Kimberly Bulldogs in the Championship on Saturday, Dec. 30 in a decisive victory 51 to 34. 

 The game started with Wolverine Evie Dolton scoring two baskets. The first one was a rebound put-back right after winning the tipoff. The second one was a turnaround jumper from the elbow, assisted by Ellie Shirts, with 6:17 to go.

 Late in the first, Ellie Shirts made a 3-pointer for the Wolverines on the wing off a pass from Trista Buescher. 

 Kimberly then gained the lead with a basket, and the first period ended with Weiser trailing by 1, 8 to 9. 

 The second quarter was a tale of two stories, with almost 4 minutes off the clock, Weiser scored their first points of the quarter. Lucy Hickey went to the line and made her first of two shots. Then after a defensive stop, Hickey had a rebound put-back and made the shot while being fouled. She added another point at the line. 

 The Wolverines scored 15 points in the last half of the quarter while holding the Bulldogs to just 4 points. Lerew finished off the period with a buzzer-beating basket in the corner. 

 Hickey had a strong quarter, scoring 7 of her 11 points on the night in the second. Going into the locker room, Weiser was leading by 10, 23 to 13.

 Weiser maintained their momentum in the third, scoring 15 points while only allowing 9 points from Kimberly. 

 The Bulldogs opened the scoring with a 3-pointer from the top in their first possession. 

 Soon afterward, in a full-court press, the Wolverines scored 5 quick points. With a steal by Shirts, Lerew made one of her two free throws after being fouled on her shot. Shirts had another steal and lay-in, and then Kendall Rynearson picked up her own steal and bucket. With 6:05 remaining in the quarter, the score was Weiser 30, Kimberly 18. 

 There was minimal scoring in the final 4 minutes of the third. But the Wolverines were able to add 4 points from 2 baskets by Lerew. The first came from a steal at half-court for a lay-in, and the second came from a steal on the inbounds pass and another lay-in. 

 At the end of the third quarter, Weiser was up 38 to 22. 

 The teams played evenly in the fourth quarter with Weiser scoring 13 points to Kimberly’s 12 points. 

 The Bulldogs were able to pick up steam with multiple shot opportunities by dominating the offensive rebounds. After the initial surge by Kimberly, the score remained at 40 to 25 for almost 2 minutes of play. 

 Rynearson broke the stalemate with a 3-pointer for Weiser off a pass from Lerew with 4:16 left to play. 

 The Wolverines capped off the tournament with a fast break, as Paisley Noyer passed the ball upcourt to Rynearson for a lay-in with 50 seconds to go. 

 Weiser came out on top with a 17-point lead, winning 51 to 33. 

 Lerew led Weiser in scoring with a game-high of 13 points. Hickey had 11 points, and Rynearson, Eames, and Shirts all contributed 7 points, while Dolton added 6 more. Lerew also had 5 steals, and Rynearson had 4. Eames led the team in rebounds with 12, Dolton with 7, and Hickey had 5.

 Scores at the end of quarters:

Weiser Kimberly

1st: 8 9

2nd: 23 13     

3rd: 38 22

4th: 51 34