A decisive win over Fruitland advances Weiser to State play-in game

On Thursday, Feb. 27, the Weiser Wolverines defeated the Fruitland Grizzlies with a score of 57 to 31. With this victory, Weiser advanced to the Idaho 4A State Play-In game on Saturday, March 1, in Mountain Home against Kimberly.

 Scoring was slow in the opening minutes of the contest, with Fruitland getting on the board first just 45 seconds in. A minute later, Weiser scored in transition when Garrett Walker passed the ball up the court to Josh Mizar, who made a full-speed left-handed layup. The Wolverines remained at 2 points for the next minute and a half while the Grizzlies scored two more buckets. Kolin Cook then hit a 3-pointer from the top of the arc. Fruitland followed with 7 unanswered points before Weiser called a timeout. After regrouping, the Wolverines held Fruitland at 13 points for the remainder of the period. Out of the timeout Weiser scored with a layup by Cook and a free throw from Owen Funke. At the end of the first, the score was Weiser 10, Fruitland 13.

 The second quarter was the complete opposite of the first, as Weiser scored 22 points while holding Fruitland to just 5. The quarter began with some back-and-forth action. Just six seconds in, Cook made a pass to Mizar for a 22-foot 3-pointer. Mizar was soon fouled on a fast break and converted both of his free throws.

 Ninety seconds into the quarter, the Grizzlies made a 3-pointer, taking a one-point lead. They held the lead for two minutes while both teams struggled to control the ball. The momentum shifted when Fruitland blocked a shot by Weiser. The ball was batted back to Cook, who took one dribble to his right and sunk a 3-pointer. This sparked a 10-point scoring run by the Wolverines before Fruitland managed to score their final 2 points of the half with 90 seconds remaining.

 Weiser ended the half with 7 more points, starting with Owen Funke’s layup. Following that, Cook passed to Funke in the corner for a 3-pointer, and then Cook secured a loose ball on Weiser’s end, drove into the key, and made a floater before time ran out. Weiser went into the locker room with a 14-point lead, 32 to 18.

 The Wolverines continued their strong performance in the third quarter, scoring 20 points. Fruitland scored first with a basket and a missed free throw in an “and-one” situation. After a missed shot by Weiser and a rebound by Fruitland, Crossley intercepted their outlet pass, scoring a quick bucket for Weiser.

 This marked the beginning of a 12-point run for Weiser, which was interrupted by a charge call on the Grizzlies as Isai Herrera played strong defense, stopping a Fruitland fast break. With about three minutes left in the third, Fruitland added a free throw and then a 3-pointer. Herrera soon after on offense made a nice pass to Garrett Walker in the key, who turned for a bucket. Shortly after, Fruitland scored again.

 In the final minute of the period, Karsten Walker had a rebound put-back, and Cook made a floater drive into the key just before the buzzer. At the end of the third, Weiser led 50 to 26.

 The fourth quarter progressed quickly, with minimal fouls and Weiser adding 7 points while Fruitland scored only 5. Scoring in this quarter came from Mizar with a long offensive rebound and drive to the rim, Garrett Walker passing to Crossley for a near free-throw-line bucket, and Herrera with another rebound put-back.

 With this decisive 26-point victory, Fruitland’s season came to an end, while Weiser advanced to the state play-in game. 

 Mizar and Cook combined for 33 points, with Mizar contributing 17 and Cook adding 16. Herrera, Funke, and Garrett Walker each scored 6 points, Crossley had 4, and Karsten Walker scored 2.

 Scores at the end of quarters:

Weiser Fruitland

1st: 10 13

2nd: 32 18    

3rd: 50 26

4th: 57 31