The Richfield Tigers snapped Carey's long Northside Conference winning streak Friday night, but Carey's Panthers bounced back Saturday with a 16-point win at Oakley.
Richfield (10-2, 5-0 Northside) got 26 points and 10 rebounds from senior star Victor Vasquez in Friday's 69-51 home victory over Carey (8-4, 4-1 league). Three players scored in double figures for Richfield (nine 3-pointers), ranked third in the Idahosports.com poll of Idaho 1A Division 2 schools.
Carey coach Dick Simpson said, "Richfield is a good ball club. They're a physical team, the most physical we've played, and the officials let 'em play."
The win by Richfield (60% field goal shooting) snapped Carey's three-season, 32-game Northside Conference win streak. Tadd Green tallied 19 points, Tyler Cook 11 and Cody Baird a season-best 9 for the Panthers (32% field goal shooting), who trailed at halftime for only the second time this year.
Richfield's victory in a rematch of last winter's Northside tournament finalist teams also stopped Carey's seven-game winning streak this year.
Simpson added, "We had 21 turnovers, 15 in the first half. When we get a good start, we usually end up well, but that didn't happen at Richfield. I think there was a lot of pressure on the kids for Richfield."
On Saturday night, Carey avenged its season-opening 60-44 home loss to Oakley with a 76-60 non-conference triumph on the Hornets homecourt. The Panthers (43% field goal) got off to a very strong start, building a 44-34 half-time lead.
Green (18.7 ppg) finished with 20 points, Cook 18, Allen Peck 14, Brad Hunt 13, James Carlson 6 and Baird 5 for Carey (6-1 away from home).
The Panthers were very hot from behind the arc, shooting a season-best 11-for-22 there. Cook (13.2 ppg) was 5-for-13 and Peck 4-for-5. Green (9.3 rebounds a game) had 6 boards and Hunt 4. Baird added 5 steals and Hunt had 6 assists.
Carey has a three-game week, starting Tuesday night at home against Bliss. The Panthers entertain Shoshone (0-11) Friday, Jan. 14 then go to Hansen Saturday in a rematch of the Carey Holiday Tournament consolation game won by Hansen 52-50 Dec. 4 in Carey.
