Caden Kisling didn’t score much, just five points on the entire game, but his final shot, surrounded by Greybull defenders, fell through, and his following free throw lifted Shoshoni to a 44-41 win over the Buffs.
It was a battle, both on the floor and in the conference standings. With regional basketball just a few weeks away, teams are jostling for postseason position. This year, nobody wants to finish fourth in either the Southwest or Northwest 2-A. Wyoming Indian and Thermopolis are the class of Class 2-A this season, and the fourth seed from each conference gets to open with either the Chiefs or the Bobcats on the big floor at Riverton High School.
Greybull and Shoshoni were both winless in the Northwest after dropping games with Rocky Mountain and being pummeled by Thermopolis.
The winner on Friday night in Shoshoni would move into third and avoid that first-round matchup. The Wranglers had the third position for now, with half the conference schedule completed after the win.
The game was a defensive tilt from the opening tip, with both teams ice-cold in the first period. Much of that was due to the tight defense being played on both ends of the floor.
Tied after one period, the Buffs took a 21-18 lead into the half, but Shoshoni tied it up again to open the final period at 30-30.
There were six ties and five lead changes from the final minute of the opening half until the Wranglers took the lead with 13 seconds remaining.
Greybull had their chances in the final seconds with the ball on the Shoshoni end of the floor and just 31 seconds left on the clock.
Greybull head coach Logan Burmingham called a timeout, but on the ensuing toss, Andrew Garcia stole the inbound pass.
The Wranglers worked the ball but couldn’t find the range.
Shoshoni had excellent offensive rebounding position, and with 21 seconds left, they shot and rebounded five times before Kisling’s game-winner.
Oakley Hicks paced the Wranglers with 14 points.
Caden Hunt led Greybull with 16.
The Wranglers get a taste of what’s waiting for the fourth-place seed from the Northwest this Thursday when they travel to Wyoming Indian.
SHOSHONI 10 8 12 14 – 44
GREYBULL 10 11 9 11 – 41
Shoshoni – Oakley Hicks 5 4-6 14, Andrew Garcia 1 (1) 3-4 8, Kasen McConnaughy (1) 0-0 3, Carson Kisling 1 2-2 4, Jordan Gilbertson 1 (1) 2-3 6, Caden Kisling 2 1-1 5, Garrett Thrasher 1-2 1. Totals 11 (3) 13-19 44
Longshore 3 0-0 6, Hunt 4 (2) 2-2 16, Cooper 2 1-3 5, Edeler (1) 0-0 3, Jacobs 4 (1) 0-0 11. Totals 13 (4) 3-5 41