Stifling defense, solid ball control and an explosion of three pointers from senior Morgan Uhrig lifted the Wood River boys' basketball team over Challis 43-30 Tuesday night on the road.
"It was a tough game but we came out and played extremely hard," said Wood River head coach Fred Trenkle. "It was a good hard fought victory on the road—they've really come along and are playing great basketball."
Wood River is now 8-8 overall (1-3 Great Basin West conference) heading into the final four games of the season, which starts with league foe Jerome tonight on the road.
The Wolverines led 11-7 at the end of the first quarter and held a commanding 13-point lead—23-10—at the half. Uhrig led the way on offense with 16 points, including four three-pointers. Senior Jesse Stark followed with nine points, and junior Corbin Miniard scored seven. Sophomore big-man Eric Jacobson, who has strep throat, did not play and is questionable for tonight's game.
Trenkle said the Vikings focused on the Wolverines wings and overlooked Uhrig on the outside.
"Uhirg took advantage of it, he had a great night—it was a good breakout game for (him)," Trenkle said. "He jumped up and hit some nice shots."
Trenkle said that while Uhrig "carried the offense," the defense was carried by everyone on the floor.
"Defensively everyone stepped up," he said.
The Wolverines played aggressively—but somehow avoided fouling Challis players, who didn't shoot a free throw all night—and held Vikings standout Frank Phillips to just 13 points. Phillips burned Wood River with 21 points in their first meeting in December, which the Wolverines handily won 62-34. Trenkle said rebound statistics were not kept Tuesday night but that the Wolverines "controlled the boards." Wood River committed just seven turnovers.
"We're really playing error-free ball," Trenkle said. "We're making good decisions."
Trenkle expects tonight's game with Jerome (10-5, 2-2) to be "a dog fight."
Jerome beat Wood River 62-55 in Hailey Jan. 4.
"Our problem is we have about five kids sick right now," Trenkle said, adding that the outcome of the game won't have any impact on the district tournament, which starts Feb. 14.
"We're as good as anybody in the league," he added. "The teams are all pretty even, but different.
"It all depends on who's clicking (on a given) night."
Wood River's Morgan Uhrig, pictured here against Jerome Jan. 4, led the Wolverines with 16 points, including four three-pointers, against Challis Tuesday night. Photo by David N. Seelig
