HEM has had some hard knocks

The Hanna, Elk Mountain, Medicine Bow (HEM) High School basketball teams have had more winning weeks, but both coaches were glad the weather did not cancel games like it has recently.

Both teams played four games this week. One of them being at home against the Encampment Tigers.

HEM boys played a non-conference game on February 17 against the Laramie sophomores and came out of it with a loss. The girls did not play because Laramie could not field a team and got a forfeit.

The second game both teams played was a makeup game against Lingle/Ft. Laramie on February 18. Unfortunately both HEM teams lost in Lingle.

Lingle/Ft. Laramie

The game had been moved from February 15 to February 18 due to bad weather the week before. The closures not only effected the game schedule but when the teams could practice as the roads were closed.

The girls came to play and scored points, but in the end they lost 45-55. HEM Head Coach Jackie Jones was not unhappy with the girls' efforts although she would have liked to win.

"We lost, but it was a physical game and we put points on the board," Jackie said. "I was proud of the girls in that game even though we didn't take it."

The Miners got behind Lingle in the first quarter, 11-24. The next quarter was closer with them going 8-9. Halftime the score was 19-33. The next quarter, HEM won 15-11, but the 4th quarter went to the Doggers 22-15 making the final score 45-64.

The rust had not shaken off yet for the boys team.

Encampment

"I wish the team that showed up in Lingle had shown up tonight," Jackie said. "Encampment did what they did to us the first time. They packed it in the zone and dared us to shoot and, at times, we weren't willing to shoot."

The Lady Miners went ahead in the first quarter, but Encampment stayed close. Amy Campbell and Taylar Scott had a good first half. The second half the Lady Tigers kept the Lady Miners from scoring with the exception of Campbell and it was not enough. Encampment came out on top 33-25.

"We have to find some confidence in our shooting, instead of just shooting," Jackie said. "When I asked the girls what they were thinking, I was told 'I hope I don't miss'. That is not the way to think. You need to think I will make this shot. We need to shoot with confidence."

She said the Lady Miners would take the time in the next days to focus on getting their confidence back.

The Miners knew they were playing one of the best teams in the state. It was exciting for the home crowd when the Miners went ahead 7-2 with five minutes left in the first. Although the lead did disappear, the Miners kept it close. Devon Grosstick was hitting three pointers and Shane McGraw had some blocks but, when half time came, the Miners were 11 points behind. The home crowd was not unhappy with the score. The Miners got a bit behind in the 3rd quarter, but at the start of the 4th quarter Brendon Reeves hit his shot and it was 49-57. The last time the teams met, Encampment won 77-45, so the crowd was encouraged to see how the game was going. The Tigers started to pull away with a little over four minutes left with the score 66-50. Encampment kept it up and won the game 82-60.

"I think we played very well, even without winning," HEM Head Basketball Coach Cliff Jones said. "We played, arguably the best team in the state, definitely in the top two, and we played them well. Last time we met, they had us by 25 at halftime and at one point led by as many as 40 points."

Cliff said until the last three minutes, he felt the team was handling the Tigers to stay in contention.

"Then Dalton Peterson got hot," Cliff said. "He made some threes and they were contested threes; its not like we were ignoring him. This is the first time we played man to man all year and when you consider the team we did, I can't be unhappy."

Cliff said Grosstick did well defensively and offensively. The HEM player hit four threes and scored a total of 26 points.

Guernsey-Sunrise

The rust was off for both teams against Guernsey-Sunrise. Maybe it was all the games played this week, but when HEM went to Guernsey, both teams played well.

The girls played great defense and scored well every quarter. Guernsey scored 2 points to the Miners 38. Jackie sent in other players the second half to give other girls playing time and they kept Guernsey to 4 points in the 3rd quarter and scoreless in the 4th quarter. The Lady Miners won 48-6.

The team that showed up at Guernsey Jackie hopes will show up again in Douglas next week.

"We know anything can happen in the regionals," Jackie said. "The core of this team know this first hand from two years ago."

The Miners came in strong the first quarter winning it 20-10. The next quarter was closer, but the Miners took it 15-11 going into halftime 35-21. The Miners continued winning each quarter and the score went in favor of HEM 73-45.

"It was the end of a long week," Cliff said. "Four games and only one practice session was not the way you want to finish the regular season."

Cliff said both teams are looking forward to regionals.

"Now it's time to get a few good practices in before we head to Douglas next week," Cliff said.

HEM basketball teams will be going to Douglas for regionals on February 27.