Loud and boisterous and perfectly in sync, Wood River High School's drum line is impossible to ignore. The Wolverine students in Tony Randall's drum line ushered in the 2007-08 home basketball season Wednesday with a banging show.
Then the senior-stocked Bonneville Bees from Idaho Falls did most of the banging on the boards and bopped Wood River's varsity 51-21 in the Hailey debut of coach Brent Carnduff's young (two freshmen, one sophomore, one junior) backcourt.
With 13 turnovers in the first quarter alone and 25 for the game, Wood River (0-2) couldn't get the ball into frontcourt seniors Lauren Morgenthaler (0 points, 5 rebounds) and Hannah Ward (1 point, 4 steals). And Bonneville applied full-court pressure defense from the outset.
Bonneville (3-0), a State 4A tournament team last winter, has returned eight seniors and is favored in the Sixth District league that also features Blackfoot, Rigby and Hillcrest. The Bees boast a 6-2 senior transfer from Virginia named Bryndy Anderson (8 points, 10 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 assists) who was the best player on the court Wednesday.
The Bees led 33-5 at halftime. Bonneville finished with all nine players on the score sheet including game-high scorer/6-0 junior Mailie Garner (9 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals) as well as 5-9 sophomore post Meranda Giles (8 points, 5 boards).
Bonneville pulled off its press after the half and the Wolverines started to execute their offense better. The home team scored 16 points to Bonneville's 18 after the half. And Wood River reduced its turnovers to just five after intermission.
Top home scorer was junior post Sam Engel (6 points, 3 boards). Others were sophomore Monica Garceau (4 points, 2 rebounds), promising left-handed freshman guard Madison Gove (4 points) and junior post Hanna Gustafson (2 points, 3 rebounds). Allie Freund (2 boards, 2 steals) and Alex Lindbloom (2 steals, 2 assists) each scored a field goal.
Wood River opened its season Saturday with a 51-30 loss at Filer. Morgenthaler (7 points) and Engel (7) led the scoring with Lindbloom (4) and Gove (4) chipping in.
The Wolverines entertain Mountain Home tonight, Friday on the Hailey hardwoods and have Kimberly as their guest Tuesday, Nov. 20.
Guard/forward Madison Give brings the ball around the corner in the Wolverines? home opener against the Bonneville Bees Wednesday. Photo by David N. Seelig
