• Evanston at home Saturday.
Since a mid-December loss to the Natrona County Mustangs at the Flaming Gorge Classic, the Braves have rattled off 11 straight wins. When taking into account their results prior to the Natrona game, they’ve now won 14 of 15. The season tallied two more home wins this past weekend as the Braves held off the Kelly Walsh Trojans 54-49 on Friday night and then handled the Rock Springs Tigers 70-51 on Saturday afternoon.
“It was a good weekend,” stated head coach Matt Shumway. “It was good to see teams that play a little bit of contrasting styles and see us adapt to it. We struggled a little bit in the second half against KW but it was a good weekend.”
Vs Kelly Walsh
The Braves came out with a quick start as they led the Trojans 17-12 at the end of the first quarter. Things kept building that direction as Star Valley led 33-17 at the half. The Trojans never gave up and chipped away at the lead and closed the gap to as small as three on multiple occasions. Star Valley made enough plays for the 54-49 final led by Cooper Lancaster’s 15 points. Max Jensen finished with 14 and Simon Gaskell pulled down a career-high 14 rebounds.
Vs Rock Springs
No fewer than seven players involved with either the girls and boys programs from Rock Springs had Star Valley ties which made for long-time Braves fans flipping their apparel for black and orange for a few hours. Where the Trojans were methodical and strategic, the Tigers wanted to speed up the tempo.
“Walsh was really good at forcing you out of what you want to do and slow things down and they shot really well,” Shumway added. “Rock Springs wants to play fast and are drive-heavy. We had to switch our thinking and I think that’s important for kids to be able to adapt like that.”
Both teams got off to a good start as they traded layups for a 19-16 first quarter. A five-point spurt led by the defense toward the end of the second quarter helped the Braves to a 38-27 halftime advantage. That lead swelled to as big as 22 points in the third quarter as the Tigers cut the advantage down to 15 but could get no closer. The momentum peaked in the gym early in the fourth quarter as Simon Gaskell threw down a thunderous one-handed dunk over the top of Rock Springs’ Goodness Okere. The perceived step-over and flex afterward earned Gaskell a very unpopular technical foul. The team was led in scoring by PJ Horsley who had 17. Gaskell had 13 points and 9 rebounds. Cooper Lancaster finished with 12 and Dylan Shumway chipped in ten.
Now riding high the Braves will be tasked with taking on a Jackson Broncs squad that is finally healthy and playing well after some challenges early in the season.
“It’s an incredible challenge this weekend,” Shumway said. “Jackson has a deceiving record. They are a good team and a lot of their losses came before they had their full roster.”
The stats back up Shumway’s statement. Since losing six of their first seven games, the Broncs have won nine of their last twelve games including a pair of double-digit wins over Rock Springs and Kelly Walsh.
“They are a matchup problem with their size,” Shumway continued. “They shot the ball really well last weekend. We’ll have to be on top of our game and defend really hard. It’s going to be a tremendous battle. The Evanston game will be another rivalry game and short turnaround so it’s a big weekend.”
Shumway also commented on what he has been impressed with regarding his own team as well.
“Our kids are moving the ball and sharing the ball well,” he said. “I think individually the points are well spread out and it’s because we are sharing and shooting well.”
Star Valley has had seven different leading scorers this season.
SVI Media will be on the road Friday night to stream the game from Teton County and also back home on Saturday for senior night against the Red Devils. Look for the watch links right here at svinews.com.
