(Pavillion, WY) – The Wind River Lady Cougars picked up their first three wins of the season on their home court over the weekend in the annual Foothills Classic. The Lady Cougars fell to defending state champion Tongue River to open the tournament 64-35, before handling Moorcroft 44-34 and surviving a pair of nail-biters in a 47-44 win over Wright and a 36-35 decision over Big Horn.
The weekend leaves Wind River 3-4 in the pre-Christmas portion of the season.
It came down to free throws in the final minutes of play as it usually does in tight games against Big Horn. Madi Arneach and Jonae Spoonhunter combined to hit five of six from the free throw line in the final period to hold off the Lady Rams.
Arneach led the team with 13 and Spoonhunter scored eight.
The Lady Cougars didn’t set any records from the free throw line on the night, hitting just 14 of 25 attempts, but they had a better percentage than Big Horn who shot only 25% on four of 16.
Against Wright the Lady Cougars nearly snatched defeat from the jaws of victory as the Lady Panthers roared back from a nine-point deficit to open the final period, closing to just a single possession late in the game.
Both teams bombed away from the perimeter with Wind River drilling six 3-pointers and Wright five.
Arneach, Spoonhunter and Tanaya Burnett all hit a pair of treys.
WIND RIVER 4 9 12 11 – 36
BIG HORN 4 10 9 12 – 35
Wind River – Natalie Walker 1 1-4 5, Natiya Shoyo 1 0-2 4, Madi Arneach 4 5-7 13, Jonae Spoonhunter 1 6-8 8, Alaina Murray 2-2 2, Tanaya Burnett 2 0-2 4, Emma Miller 2 0-0 4. Totals 11 14-25 36
Big Horn – Totals 11 (3) 4-16 35 
WIND RIVER 18 12 9 8 – 47
WRIGHT 8 17 5 14 – 44
Wind River – Walker 1 0-0 2, Shoyo 1 0-0 2, Arneach 7 (2) 20, Spoonhunter 2 (2) 3-7 13, Burnett (2) 0-0 6, Miller 1 2-2 4. Totals 12 (6) 5-9 47
Big Horn – Totals 10 (5) 9-17 44