Wolverines unable to hold lead, loose heartbreaker to Payette

Published by admin on Tue, 01/24/2023 - 9:04pm

The Weiser Wolverine mens basketball team hosted the Payette Pirates on Tuesday. Weiser took control of the first half outscoring Payette by seven in the first quarter and six in the second. After the halftime break Payette tied the game and outscored Weiser in the fourth taking the conference win 47-38. Pictured above, senior Tre Crocket (4) makes a bucket late in the game against Payette. Malakye Scott (3), Braden Phillips (32), and Brayden Walker (12) are ready to help. Photo by Michelle Estes
By: 
Michelle Estes
 
 The Weiser Wolverine boys hosted the Payette Pirates on Tuesday, Jan. 17. 
 Weiser and Payette saw each other in a non-conference tournament over Christmas break, where Weiser came out on top, winning 73-64.
 In the home conference game, Weiser lost in a fourth quarter battle after being tied at 26 all at the end of the third. 
 The game started out with the Wolverines in control for the first half of the game. Then the Pirates slowly edged out the Wolverines outscoring them to tie the game at the end of the third and to take the lead in the fourth. 
 Weiser’s Jack Shirts was the first to score early in the first with a drive into the paint; with a soft floating lay-in, Weiser was first on the board. 
 Weiser stayed on a steady scoring run throughout the first. Michael Youngberg picked up an assist from the block with a pass outside to Kolin Cook for 2 points. Brayden Walker soon sunk 2 free throws. Malakye Scott added 2 points off a spin move and drive to the bucket. Youngberg got another assist with a nice pass to Shirts beyond the arc at the top for a 3-pointer ending the first quarter. 
 At the end of one quarter of play, Weiser was up by 7 points, 11-4.  
 The second quarter was a defensive stand between the two teams. Weiser scored 5 points, while Payette added 6. 
 Midway through the second, Shirts on a fast break went up for a lay-in that was called in due to a Pirate goal tending as the Payette defender slapped the backboard. 
 The half ended a bit wild. The teams struggled to score, made multiple turnovers, and tried to secure loose balls.
 Going into the locker room it was Weiser 16, Payette 10. 
 The second half started out with a Walker assist to Shirts. Payette answered with their first 3 pointer of the night. 
   Just under halfway into the third, Weiser’s Carter Jensen made a shot from the elbow. Youngberg soon added 2 points from free throws. 
 Payette came alive making a few buckets and another 3 pointer giving them the lead with 2 minutes to play in the third, Weiser 22, Payette 24.
 Next trip to offense for the Wolverines, Walker fed Tre Crocket the ball at the block, where he sunk the shot, tying the game at 24. 
 Shirts finished out Weiser’s scoring for the quarter with two free throws. 
   Payette made a bucket of their own to tie the game again at 26 all ending the third. 
   The final quarter of the night started as a back-and-forth contest with one team taking the lead and then the other tying it. The fourth finished with Payette out pacing Weiser with a 9-point lead.
 With 2 minutes off the clock, Weiser’s Cook found Toren Walker in the corner for a 3 pointer and tying the game at 31 all. 
 Payette soon picked up a rebound put back to take the lead. Next trip to offense for Weiser, Scott gave Cook the ball as he was cutting to the basket for a lay-in and another tie at 33. 
 Midway into the fourth, the Pirates picked up momentum while the Wolverines were unable to get defensive stops. 
 In the final 2 minutes of the game, Jensen made a turnaround jumper from the block, a rebound put back and a free throw. 
 Without the defensive stops, Weiser lost ground as Payette continued to widen the scoring gap. The game ended in a loss for Weiser, 38 to 47. 
 High scorer for Weiser was Shirts with 11, Jensen added 7, Cook had 6, and B. Walker with 5 points. T. Walker had a 3 pointer.  Scott, Crockett, and Youngberg all contributed 2 points each. 
Scores at the end of quarters
Weiser Payette
First: 11 4
Second: 16 10
Third: 26 26
Fourth: 38 47

Category:

Signal American

18 E. Idaho St.
Weiser, ID 83672
PH: (208) 549-1717
FAX: (208) 549-1718
 

Connect with Us