(Pavillion, WY) – Fort Washakie took a 55-45 non-conference, inter-class win over Wind River at Pavillion Tuesday evening behind balanced scoring that saw five players score between eight and 15 points. The win was the first ever at the varsity level between the Cougars and Eagles.
Since Wind River opened in 1969, players from Fort Washakie have traveled to play as Cougars. First at Morton and then at the new school at Pavillion.
For generations, talented players who went to Fort Washakie through eighth grade have bolstered the Wind River football, basketball, wrestling, and track teams.
Fort Washakie now has its own high school, and the pipeline to Pavillion has largely dried up.
The Tuesday contest was tied three times in the opening period at 2, 8, and 10 before the Eagles made a 6-0 run late in the quarter, capped by a Ty Hereford step-through with 1:13 remaining.
Wind River rallied on a pair of follow shots by Zane David and a final one with two seconds on the clock by Ford David.
Fort Washakie rolled in the second period on a 15-3 run to blow open the game. The Cougars turned the ball over in the front court often but missed many more point-blank shots.
Wind River’s only points came on a Tanner Walker jump shot and a free throw from Jeffrey Strock.
The second half featured better play by both teams, with more consistent shooting. Fort Washakie built their largest lead of the game, 41-22, on a post-up by Michael Arthur with 3:01 remaining in the third period. Arthur was tough on the low block all game, converting a no-look, reverse layup during the second period.
Zane David paced Wind River with 15 points, and Walker and Ford David each finished with 10.
For the Eagles, Johnson Roanhorse had 15, Ty Hereford 14, and Arthur 10. Quincey Teichert and Dandre Vasquez each scored eight. Vasquez had a couple of nice 3-pointers from well beyond the arc that barely nicked the net as they sank through.
Wind River enters conference play this weekend at Kemmerer and Big Piney.
FORT WASHAKIE 16 15 12 12 – 55
WIND RIVER 14 3 14 14 – 45
Wind River – Tanner Walker 4 2-4 10, Jeffrey Stock 1 1-2 3, Zane David 6 (1) 0-0 15, Ford David 4 2-4 10, Kai Alatini 3 2-3 8. Totals 18 (1) 6-13 45
Fort Washakie – Johnson Roanhorse 5 (1) 2-3 15, Ty Hereford 7 0-1 14, Dandre Vasquez 1 (2) 0-0 8, Michael Arthur 5 0-0 10, Quincey Teichert 4 0-4 8. Totals 22 (3) 2-8 55