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Braves open conference play with Casper squads in town

Coach Matt Shumway addresses the Braves in their game on the road versus Sky View. (PHOTO BY LORENE HALE)

 

• Open week focused on the basics

This past week the Star Valley Braves basketball team did not have games but will be back in action this Friday and Saturday on the home court.

With no games on the slate, coach Matt Shumway said the squad worked on items they hope will help them as they enter the portion of the schedule with more meaningful games.

“In some ways it’s nice because you can take a step back and look at yourselves,” he said of the last week. “We conditioned hard and focused on defensive rotations and shooting. We did some film study and some skill work.”

This weekend opens up 4A West conference play as Star Valley will host both Natrona County and Kelly Walsh from Casper. Unlike recent years where the two schools have rotated who is in the 4A West, they are both now in the conference moving forward and are part of the Northwest quadrant.

Both teams started the season at 0-5 on their schedule but found success in tournament play in Cheyenne this past weekend. Natrona County went 2-1 to improve to (2-6) overall and Kelly Walsh won three games to move to (3-5).

Shumway said both teams present their own set of challenges and will be two very different methods of play.

“It’s nice to get into region play but both nights are going to be difficult,” he added. “Two contrasting styles. Natrona is going to be much more aggressive; almost chaotic, man to man and Kelly Walsh will have an extended 2-3 zone. All of our focus right now is on Natrona and trying to get that one and then we will go from there.”

The Braves open up with the Mustangs on Friday night with a varsity tip-time of 7:30 p.m. The last time the two teams met was in the third-place game at the state tournament last March with the Mustangs coming away victorious. Natrona is led by Tanner Hagar who averages just under 14 points per game.

The Trojans, led by coach Randy Roden, also have a player netting 14 points per game with Mason Eager.

Varsity tip-time for the Saturday game with KW is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Shumway said the team is anxious to get back on the hardwood.

“We’ve played two games in a month so it will be good to get some games going again and try and get some wins under our belt.”

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