Friday, February 6, 2009

Hailey boys hold off Buhl 47-44 for second win

Tidwell’s 22 points spark Wolverines at home


Wood River senior forward Sean Bunce came off the bench to give the Wolverines a big boost Wednesday night in their 47-44 home win over Buhl that snapped a nine-game losing skid. Photo by David N. Seelig

Leading scorer Bryan Tidwell (12.0 ppg) has done just about everything for the Wood River High School boys' varsity basketball team this winter—so why not handle the ball?

The 6-4 senior wing took over the point guard position during the second quarter of Wednesday's non-conference home game against the Buhl Tribe at the Hailey gym.

Facing the basket instead of playing down low, Tidwell started driving and penetrating and the results turned out well. Wood River outscored Buhl 38-23 in the middle quarters and secured a rare 47-44 victory.

Tidwell (22 points, 11 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 assists) scored 18 of his 22 points when Wood River made its big charge in the second and third periods.

Coach John Radford's Wolverines (2-12, 0-4 league) won their first home game of the 2008-09 season and snapped a nine-game losing streak that dated all the way back to their 55-34 road win at Buhl Dec. 13.

The Wolverines overcame 23 turnovers and a cold-shooting, three-point fourth quarter (with only one field goal, by Tidwell) during which Buhl (2-14) sliced its once sizable 14-point deficit to three. The Tribe had its chances to tie, but shot 4-of-10 from the free throw line in the final eight minutes.

Lending a big hand as Wood River out-rebounded Buhl 39-28 was senior Brent Hope (8 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists). Senior Sean Bunce (6 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals) came off the bench to spark the second-quarter Wood River rally.

Other contributors were Michale Brunker (5 points, 3 boards, 7 steals, 2 assists), Greg Wakefield (4 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals), Juan Martinez (4 rebounds) and Ryan Dean (2 points).

Topping Buhl were 6-5 junior forward J.D. Leckenby (15 points, 10 rebounds), Nathan Romans (11 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 assists), Nick Hamilton (8 points, 7 boards, 3 steals, 3 assists) and Cader Owen (2 points, 7 assists).

Wood River visits Burley (7-10, 2-2) today, Friday and goes to Pocatello Tuesday. The final Wolverine league game is Thursday, Feb. 12 against Minico (7-10, 2-3) at Rupert. Most likely the Wolverines will open the Great Basin Conference West tournament Feb. 17 at top-seeded Jerome (16-2).

Burley downs WRHS girls

In the first round of the District IV 4A Great Basin West girls' basketball tournament, #1 Burley (17-4) bested #4-ranked Wood River 48-32 Tuesday on the Burley floor.

The Bobcats' big night was due in part to a standout performance by senior Kassi Kerbs, who dropped in six treys in a 30-point bid.

Hailey's high scorer was Cheyenne Swanson with 11 points. Kaitana Martinez 7, Monica Garceau 5, Alex Lindbloom 4, Grace Lagodich 2, Tristan Bowers 2 and Taylor Hayes 1.

Wood River (4-15) played #3 Minico (9-12) Thursday night in a loser-out contest at Rupert. Second-seeded Jerome (17-4) defeated the Spartans 63-26 Tuesday. The winner of last night's Wood River-Minico game meets the loser of Jerome-Burley Saturday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. for a shot at Monday's championship game.




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