The Wolverines stay alive with 45-35 win over the Panthers

The Weiser Wolverines and the Parma Panthers met in a final SRV tournament game on Thursday, Feb. 25. The Panthers showed up ready to play, but were no match for the determined Wolverines.
 Weiser scored first and never gave up the lead, winning by 10 points, 45 to 35. Parma was able to knock on the door a couple of times, but were unable to close the gap.
 With less than a minute off the clock in the first, Weiser was up 4-0. The first points of the game came from Brett Spencer as he drove in while the Parma defense was trying to get organized. Soon afterwards Eli Ruiz stole the ball and took it the length of the court for two more.
 Both teams had multiple turnovers as the speed of the game picked up. With just over a minute remaining, Weiser’s Evan Haggerty picked up a solid rebound and put it in for two.
 The next trip on offense Spencer made a beautiful reverse lay-in as he banked the ball high on the glass so it could drop in.  
 The first quarter ended Weiser 10, Parma 7.
 Early in the second Weiser jumped out to an eight point lead. Parma fought back and with just under three minutes to go, it was Weiser 16, Parma 15. This was the closest Parma would get to Weiser for the remainder of the game.
 A minute later, Levi Estes with a tough rebound went back up increasing Weiser’s lead to three points.
 After a couple turnovers by both teams, Sam Kerner drove to the basket and pulled up short as he made a six-foot jumper, ending the half with a Wolverine five point lead, 20 to 15.
 In the third quarter, Weiser quickly jumped out to a 10 point lead with a defensive steal by Spencer that he took down for a lay-in and two points. Next trip on offense, on a baseline inbounds play, Ruiz delivered the ball to Kerner for a three-pointer in the corner.
 Weiser and Parma both added a couple of buckets before Weiser’s Haggerty added his own three-pointer with 3:30 to play in the third. It was Weiser 32, Parma 20.
 The Wolverines working hard were able to gain the advantage and had a 17 point lead with less than a minute to go in the third.
 The Panthers scored near the end of the quarter reducing Weiser’s lead to  15. At the end of the third it was Weiser 39, Parma 24.
 Weiser playing a little unfocused turned the ball over several times, giving Parma a chance to score. At the midpoint of the fourth, Parma had reduced Weiser’s lead to only seven points.
 The Wolverines then picked up their level of play and were slowly able to add points and keep the Panthers at bay.
 With just under three minutes to play, Spencer had a nice assist to Ray Calley as he cut through the key and was able to roll the ball in over the front of the rim.
 Both teams then went to a full court press, which caused lots of scrambling and battling for the ball, as well as, a few fouls. The game ended with Weiser up by ten, 45 to 35.
 With the win, the Wolverines travel to Grangeville to play Bonners Ferry on Saturday. The winner of that game will advance to the Idaho 3A State Tournament.
 Weiser scoring: Spencer 13, Kerner nine, Ruiz eight, Haggerty seven, Estes and Calley four.