Weiser suffers a difficult loss on the road to Gooding

The Weiser Wolverine boys played against the Gooding Senators for the second time in the season. In their first meeting on Dec. 8, Weiser won at home with a score of 53 to 50. Since that game on Dec. 8, Weiser has played two games, winning against Vale and losing to Canyon Ridge. On the other hand, Gooding has played in multiple games, winning three and losing two, which included losses to Parma and American Falls at the Parma Holiday Tournament.

 On Friday, Jan. 5, the Wolverines traveled to Gooding and faced a tough loss to the Senators. Weiser had a difficult time getting the ball through the hoop, while Gooding shot extremely well. The Wolverines were able to take shots but could not capitalize on scoring points. They went 39 percent for 2-pointers, 25 percent for 3-pointers, and 39 percent from the free-throw line, making only 7 out of 18. 

 The Senators shot a little better, with 50 percent for 2-pointers and 33 percent for 3-pointers. They had a huge advantage at the line, making 19 out of 23 for 82 percent for free throws.

 The game began with a tight first quarter, with multiple lead changes. Jack Shirts from Weiser made a turnaround jumper inside the key, scoring the first points of the game within 45 seconds. Both teams added a couple of buckets before Kolin Cook from Weiser gave the Wolverines a 6 to 5 lead by making a 3-pointer from about three steps beyond the arc. 

 The Senators responded with a bucket, going up by one point with 5:10 remaining in the first quarter.

 Midway into the first, Cook drove towards the basket but was stopped, kicked the ball out to Finn Dolton, who was just past the free throw line. Dolton shot and found the bottom of the net, giving Weiser a 1-point lead.        

 With about a minute remaining, senior Braden Phillips grabbed a strong rebound for Weiser and passed it out to Carter Jensen, who made a 3-pointer, putting Weiser up 13 to 11. 

 Near the end of the quarter, Gooding in a 3/4 court press stole the ball. and went down making a wide-open lay-in, tying the game at 13 all to end the first quarter. 

 Gooding had the momentum in the second quarter, quickly adding points while the Wolverines missed multiple shots. However, with 1:15 to go, Cook gave Weiser a 3-point boost with a shot about 4 steps behind the 3-point line. 

 At halftime, Weiser was down by 11 points, 22 to 33. 

 Coming out of the locker room, not much changed for Weiser as they were still plagued with missed shots. However, the Wolverines had a short scoring run when Owen Funke made a nice 3 with just over a minute to go in the third quarter. Cook added 2 more points a few seconds later. At the buzzer, Jensen fed Cook at the top for a 3-pointer. 

 At the end of the third quarter, the score was Weiser 35, Gooding 51. 

 Gooding slightly widened the gap by adding 15 points in the fourth quarter, while Weiser put up 11. The Wolverines finished the evening losing to the Senators 46 to 66. 

 Weiser was led in scoring by Cook with 14 points, followed by Shirts with 10, Josh Mizar and Jensen both with 7, Funke with 4, and Dolton and Isai Herrera both with 2 points. 

 The boys will host Payette on Thursday, Jan. 11.

 

 Scores at the end of quarters:

Weiser Gooding

1st: 13 13

2nd: 22 33    

3rd: 35 51

4th: 46 66