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Boys need win at Shoshoni Friday

When the Bobcats visited the top ranked 1A defending state champion Burlington Huskies Friday, coach Kevin Gerber was well aware the Bobcats were facing a good team, a very good team.

Fifty-two points later, all the statistics of the game pointed to a Thermopolis victory except the scoreboard which showed the Huskies with 54.

Keegan Robbins with 22 rebounds nearly exceeded the entire Burlington squad's 26. Only nine turnovers were suffered by the Bobcats. Both teams hit 50 percent of their free throws.

Tyler Cornwell with 20 points, Noah Schwalbe with 15, and Robbins with 10 all scored in double figures to lead the Bobcat offense.

"We were down three at halftime after a slow start, and down two at the start of the fourth quarter," recounted Gerber. "We got the ball back with about 16 seconds left and a chance to tie at 54 or go ahead. We took a time out, developed a play, and when play began ran it well. With about eight seconds left we had the shot we wanted followed by two tips and none of the shots went in. We played hard, and for the most part - well. They are a very good team, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see them repeat their championship."

Saturday saw the cagers return to their home floor against conference foe, Rocky Mountain High School for the third time in a game important in determining the seeding for the upcoming regional tournament.

Both discipline and effort were impressive in the 60-54 Bobcat victory. The effort shown through when after leading for most of the game, the Bobcats mounted a response after the Grizzlies had closed the gap to two points and extended the lead back to six.

Discipline was best demonstrated when three Bobcats- Roling, Schwalbe and Robbins - played most of the fourth quarter with four fouls and little or no drop off in defensive coverage. In fact, the Bobcats were still able to match the Grizzlies in scoring at 12 points for the quarter.

"One of the key plays of the game," remembered Gerber, "was when they had closed the gap and one of their guys was driving the lane for an easy bucket when Eric (Herold) set up and took a charge. We got the ball and scored to regain our momentum."

High scorers for the Bobcats were Cornwell with 19 and Robbins with 14. Cornwell has been on a scoring run for the last four games knocking down 74 points to lead the team offensively. Robbins has been tough on defense with his hustle and rebounding. The truth is, as Coach Gerber indicates, "These guys have come together as a team They cover each other's back."

The last week of conference play finds Thermopolis at Shoshoni on Friday in a truly must win game, and back home on Saturday against Riverside in their senior night closer.

 

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