The road doesn't get any easier for the Wood River High School boys' varsity basketball team (1-4, 0-0 league) in their pre-holiday games.
Wood River, struggling on offense, dropped non-league contests to 3A Sawtooth Central Idaho Conference teams Kimberly 54-30 Friday night at Kimberly and 51-41 Saturday on the Hailey hardwoods.
Coach John Radford's Wolverines had a few days of practice this week to get ready for the #2-ranked Idaho 2A Glenns Ferry Pilots (5-1), who are averaging over 66 points per game for coach Jeremiah Johnston.
Glenns Ferry has a sophomore star in sharpshooter Michael Crane plus an effective senior point guard who can score, Jesus Rodriquez. The Pilots have won three straight over Gooding, Declo and Filer.
The Wood River-Glenns Ferry clash is Thursday, Dec. 13 in the Snake River canyon.
After battling the Pilots, Wood River enters Great Basin Conference West action Saturday, Dec. 15 in Rupert against the 4A #3-ranked Minico Spartans (3-1). The Wolverines finish with home games Tuesday, Dec. 18 against 4A Hillcrest (2-2) and Thursday, Dec. 20 with #2-ranked Century (4-0).
Prep basketball fans were keeping a close eye on Tuesday night's showdown between unbeaten Century (averaging 64.3 ppg) and reigning State 4A champion and #1-ranked Burley (4-0, 62.0 ppg) on the Bobcat hardwoods.
In Saturday's Buhl game, Wood River led 23-18 at halftime but was outscored 33-18 after intermission as the Tribe (1-2) scratched and clawed for its first win 51-41.
Hailey scorers included Matt Staskiewicz 9 points, Greg Wakefield 7, Pat Patterson 7, Alberto Vazquez 6, Keven Abbott 6, Brian Tidwell 4 and Ross Parsons 2.
Staskiewicz (14 points) and Tidwell (9 points) did most of the damage in Friday's 24-point loss at Kimberly (2-1). Ten different Bulldogs scored.
In both the Kimberly and Buhl losses, Wood River played without 6-5 senior center Erik Jacobson, still sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Jacobson has played sparingly in only one game, the 32-point home loss to Pocatello Dec. 5. The Wolverines, outscored 59-20 at the free throw in their three-game skid, just haven't been able to establish an inside game in his absence.
Wood River senior Matt Staskiewicz splits the gap and goes to his left hand through Buhl defenders Tory Cooper (left) and Brad Twiss (right) Saturday night in Hailey. Photo by David N. Seelig
