(Pavillion, WY) – It was a brawl Friday Night at the “Purple Palace” in Pavillion between the visiting Lady Chiefs and the home-standing Lady Cougars of Wind River.
In a game that set the starting time for following boys’ contest back almost a half-hour the two teams clawed, fumbled, fell down and missed every outside shot for 32 minutes on the clock, but almost two hours on the court before the Lady Chiefs pulled away for a 45-34 win.
Wild play for 32 minutes – h/t Jessica Schooner 
The game could have been played in 1983, before the advent of the 3-point shot. Both teams cranked up air balls from beyond the arc, dozens of them.
In between, there were only a couple of possessions when an official’s whistle didn’t stop play every four or five seconds.
Both teams committed dozens of turnovers, both forced and unforced.
Wind River came out playing well in the first three minutes of the game, taking a quick 8-2 lead that prompted a timeout from Wyoming Indian head coach Aleta Moss.
The break in action didn’t slow the Lady Cougars who bumped their lead to nine, the largest of the game, at 14-5.
The Lady Cougars went silent offensively over the last 11 minutes of the half, scoring just five points in the second period as Wyoming Indian began to hit inside and off transition points off dozens of Wind River turnovers.
The score was tied at 19 at the half.
It stayed close through the end of the third, though the 3-point ball kept either flying out of bounds on the back side of the rim or clanking hard off the front for both teams.
It was close in the final period with the Cougars closing to 34-32 with six minutes left to play, but Wyoming Indian, led by forward Taya Dixey and Delaney Gambler, who played for Wind River last season took control of the game.
Gambler finished with 17 and Dixey a dozen.
Wind River was led by Madi Arneach with 15 and Emma Miller with 10.
Arneach was the only Wind River player to shoot the ball in the opening six minutes of the game.
Wind River hosts Wright on Saturday while Wyoming Indian entertains a talented squad from Rocky Mountain.
WIND RIVER 14 5 11 4 – 34
WYOMING INDIAN 9 10 14 12 – 45
Wind River –Natalie Walker 2 2-6 6, Natiya Shoyo 1-2 1, Madi Arneach 5 5-7 15, Jonae Spoonhunter 1 0-1 2, Emma Miller 4 2-2 10. Totals 12 10-18 34
Wyoming Indian – Gerilyn Redman 1 1-2 3, Taya Dixey 4 3-4 11, Paisley Blackburn 1 5-8 7, Jaimie Shoyo-Ferris 1 1-2 3, Delaney Gambler 6 5-9 17, Ali Hubbard 0-2 0, Anessa White 1 0-0 2, Aisyln Gamber 2-2 2. Totals 14 17-29 45