JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — It was all coal in the stockings as Jackson Hole High School boys and girls basketball teams both headed to the Christmas break still in search of their first wins of the season. Both clubs went winless in the Flaming Gorge Classic last weekend played in Green River
The girls played a very encouraging game to start the tournament on Friday. Coach Jason Huggins had to be happy with what he saw out of his team as they played Rawlins tough, only to come up on the short end of a 42-37 final score.
The Lady Broncs executed Huggins’ up-tempo offense in flashes on Friday, as they pushed the pace and displayed a suffocating, rally-to-the-ball defense at times. Jackson also spread the scoring around evenly on Friday, getting points from 9 different players.
But too often the Lady Broncs were their own worst enemy as they continued to push the pace of play to the point of self-destruction at times. Some of Jackson’s possession were simply borderline out-of-control where they should have taken a breath to slow themselves down and get things in check.
Huggins needed options Friday as point guard Hailey Hardeman could not get anything to fall and eventually ran into foul trouble. Holland Gaston also had an off-game shooting-wise. But the Lady Broncs all came to play and the girls picked up their fellow teammates.
Hardeman made up for Friday’s cold spell with lights out shooting on Saturday. Her 22 points against Mountain View paced the Lady Broncs in a 57-44 loss to the Buffaloes. Hardeman and Bella Gwilliam led the way for Jackson in their final game of the tourney—a 45-35 loss to the Grace Grizzlies.
Boys basketball
The boys team let one get away Friday. The Broncs were every bit a team that had enough to knock out Little Snake River Friday afternoon but confidence issues continue to plague the black-and-orange.
There is life after Nate Fairbanks and the Broncs have some pieces to work with. Head coach Sam Lunz has weapons from the perimeter in Evan Brunner, Gavin Brunner, and Silas Wotkyns. Down low, Colter Dawson and Aidan Walker play a good post game and bang the boards. Junior Rowan Bruno shows signs he can be a competent point guard.
In a back-and-forth game to open the tournament on Friday, Jackson led after the 1st quarter, then retook the lead early in the second half. They also outscored the Rattlers in the final frame. But it wasn’t enough as the Broncs pulled up short 61-54.
The Broncs were never in it against West Side (Dayton, Idaho) later that night. The Pirates jumped out to a 24-10 lead after the 1st quarter and never looked back, beating Jackson 73-36. The Broncs lost the final game of the tournament to the Lyman Eagles on Saturday by a score of 63-28.
Both boys and girls Broncs teams are now 0-6 overall and heading into conference play in January.
