Starting slowly in its first game after the holiday, the Wood River High School girls' varsity basketball team got two wake-up calls Tuesday night in its home game against Wendell.
The first came from sophomore Kaitana Martinez, who heaved a desperation half-court 3-pointer that beat the halftime buzzer and gave Wood River a 17-14 halftime lead over a Wendell team the Wolverines had beaten by 19 points Nov. 17.
Coach Mendy Benson provided the other wake-up call in her halftime motivational speech and the results were obvious—an 18-0 Wolverine run in the third quarter that turned a frustrating nail-biter into a 43-27 Hailey triumph.
Eight Wolverines scored, led by Cheyenne Swanson 9 points, Martinez 8, Alex Lindbloom 7, Tristin Bowers 7, Grace Lagodich 4, Monica Garceau 4, Jade Glenn 2 and Brooke Bowers 2.
Coach Benson was insistent the Wolverines (11-2, 3-2 league) play a full four quarters because that's exactly what the Hailey girls needed to do Thursday to have any chance against the 4A top-ranked Jerome Tigers, at Jerome. The two-time defending Great Basin Conference champs (12-1, 5-0) carried an 11-game winning streak and 34-game home win streak into Thursday's battle.
Minico upends WRHS boys
The Minico Spartans put nine players in the scoring column and breezed to a 45-21 Great Basin Conference win over the Wood River boys' varsity in Hailey Wednesday.
Pedro Contreras led the Wolverines (2-5, 1-3 league) with 9 points while Keven Abbott had 4, Olle Hoeglund 4, Quentin Dowdle 2 and Stone Sutton 2. Kevin Jurgensemeier (10) topped Minico (5-3, 1-0).
Wood River seeks its first home victory of the 2009-10 season tonight, Friday when the Kimberly Bulldogs (1-5) visit Hailey for a non-conference tussle. Wood River defeated Kimberly 47-38 on Dec. 15 with a 20-3 fourth-quarter surge.
The Wolverines visit Jerome (5-3) on Tuesday, Jan. 12. League leader Twin Falls (8-1, 2-0) continues as the top-ranked 4A team after its 58-25 win at Burley (4-5, 1-1) Wednesday.
