“The merry myriad of mighty midgets” won another one at the Ford Wyoming Center and will play Saturday morning at 9 for the Class 2-A consolation trophy. The Lady Blue of Shoshoni held off the Big Horn Lady Rams 41-39 early Friday morning to stay alive in the hunt for a trophy.
The battle wasn’t easy. With four of the top six players just an inch or so above or below five feet, they held off a Big Horn squad dotted with girls almost a foot taller.
Big Horn opened with a 3-point shot on the opening possession, but Shoshoni answered just seconds later when Natalie Gilbertson hit a shot so on target that the net barely moved.
In the ensuing battle that followed, the score was tied eight times with three lead changes.
Shoshoni jumped to a 7-3 lead on a follow shot by Kaylor McConnaughey and a steal and layup by Gilbertson.
Big Horn rolled on a quick 4-0 for the game’s second tie.
Macy Jarvis and Eckley Winfield hit back-to-back treys, and the Lady Blue briefly led by six. Big Horn led 24-22 at the break.
Big Horn hit a pair of late third-period 3-pointers to take a 32-30 lead into the final period.
McConnaughey was fouled on a 3-point attempt with 5:29 remaining in the contest. She hit two of three, and Shoshoni took the lead for good.
They held a tenuous 38-37 lead when Macy Jarvis rolled off a high pick and drained a long 3-point shot.
The 41-37 lead should have held until the end, but the Lady Blue couldn’t hit from the free-throw line when they started their delay game
Head coach Ryan Gilbertson used his timeouts judiciously in the final minutes.
Big Horn’s Teagan Butler hit a post-up with 1:02 remaining to close the gap to two.
Shoshoni dropped back on defense with 19 seconds left and battled on the boards, but Big Horn’s height advantage was too much, and the Lady Rams rolled off four final shots, all missing the mark as the buzzer sounded.
Neither team lit it up from the free-throw line. Shoshoni was 11 of 20, and Big Horn hit just four of 20
SHOSHONI 14 8 8 11 – 41
BIG HORN 10 14 8 7 – 39
Shoshoni – Brenna Metzler 1 2-4 4, Kaylor McConnaughey 1 (1) 2-5 7, Addi Mason 1 (1) 2-2 7, Mayce Jarvis 1 (1) 2-4 7, Natalie Gilbertson 1 (2) 2-2 10, Eckley Winfield 1 (1) 1-2 6. Totals 6 (6) 11-20 41
Big Horn – Sophia Harnish 1 0-0 2, Afton Cummings 4 (1) 1-2 12, Emery Taylor 4 1-10 9, Ava Taylor 2 (2) 1-4 11, Teeka Baker 1 0-0 2, Teagan Butler 1 1-2 3. Totals 13 (3) 4-20 39