Wolverines suffer a one point loss on a buzzer beater bucket

by Michelle Estes

 The final conference game for the Wolverines ended in a tough 1 point loss to the Payette Pirates. Weiser came up short on Friday, Feb. 11 losing 52-53 on a buzzer beater bucket by Payette. 

 The loss evened up the record for both teams. The two teams ended the season with a conference with 3 wins and 7 loses. Payette winning the tie breaker, will host Weiser for the first round of the district tournament on Tuesday, Feb. 15. No score was available at the time of printing. 

 The Friday night game was tight from start to finish. Neither team, able to get a sizable lead. 

 Brayden Walker hot in the first quarter, scored first with a 3 pointer off of a pass from Michael Youngberg. A few minutes later Walker snagged an offside rebound putting it back up for 2 more. With 3:30 left to play in the first, Walker sunk a second 3 pointer. 

 With 2:30 to go and the score tied at 8, Levi Estes went to the free throw line where he made both giving Weiser the lead, 10 to 8. 

 Weiser unable to score again in the first, the period ended Weiser 10, Payette 13. 

 Both teams scored well in the second. The Wolverines added 16, while the Pirates added 13. 

 Weiser quickly took a 17 to 13 lead. First off a Brayden Walker pass to Brett Spencer for a jump shot. Then Evan Haggerty had a steal and lay in. Spencer added a 3 pointer with an assist from Haggerty.

 The Wolverines struggling in defense allowed the Pirates to score on a couple of lay ins and a 3 point lead. 

 In the final minute of the half, Weiser added 3 quick buckets. Malakye Scott found Brett Spencer for 2 points. Scott sunk one in the key. And then with 3 seconds left, Willy Shirts passed the ball to his brother Jack for a 3, tying the game at 26 as they went to the locker room. 

 The second half opened up with Weiser’s Brett Spencer sinking two 3’s from the corner and teammate Scott adding 2 points.   

 Weiser struggled to contain Payette as they scored off of free throws and lay ins. At the end of the third, Weiser 38, Payette 39. 

 The fourth quarter was action packed as both teams played man to man defense. 

 With 5 minutes remaining, the Wolverines took the lead as Brett Spencer sunk a 3. Payette then took a 4 point lead that held for the next 1:30. 

 With 1:16 remaining, Jack Shirts found Brett Spencer in the corner for 3, Weiser 50, Payette 51.  

 After multiple turnovers and steals by both teams, with 6 seconds to play, Haggerty went to the free throw line giving Weiser a 1 point lead, 52-51. 

 The Pirates called a timeout to make a last attempt plan. On a side line out of bounds play at half court, Weiser’s defense did not stay with their players leaving two Payette Pirates unguarded. At the buzzer Payette made an easy lay in to take the lead and win, Weiser 52, Payette 53.

 Brett Spencer led the Wolverines with 24 points, Evan Haggerty had 9, Brayden Walker 8, Malakye Scott with 4, Jack Shirts 3, and Brock Spencer and Levi Estes with 2 each.