Homedale takes early lead, hands Weiser 66-48 loss

Wolverines battle hard against Trojans savvy offense and three point shooting

The Weiser Wolverines boys hosted the Homedale Trojans on Tuesday, Jan. 16, resulting in the Wolverines’ second disappointing loss in less than a week. The Wolverines struggled to keep up with the pace and quick scoring that the Trojans had set, losing the scoring battle for the first three quarters. The night ended in a 48-66 loss for Weiser.   

 Homedale was in the lead from the start of the game, with the score at 0-5 only 20 seconds in.    

 Weiser’s scoring was spread out over the first quarter, with a minute or more between each bucket. Their first score came from a Braden Phillips free throw, followed by Josh Mizar’s 3-pointer. Mizar added 2 more points from free throws. Finally, with 12 seconds to go, Finn Dolton had a rebound putback for 2 points, bringing Weiser’s first quarter total to 8 points. 

 At the end of one period of play, it was Weiser 8, Homedale 13. 

 The Trojans widened the gap in the second quarter with their quick transitions and ability to move the ball well in their offense. In the first 1:30 of the second quarter, the Trojans made three 3-pointers while Weiser went scoreless. 

 Five minutes in, Mizar drove into the paint and kicked the ball out to Carter Jensen for a 3-pointer and Weiser’s first score of the quarter. 

 The half ended with a surge by the Wolverines, with Phillips making a nice post move on the block for 2 points, and Shirts making two 3-pointers quickly boosting Weiser’s score. 

 At halftime, the score was Weiser 19, Homedale 28.

 The Wolverines had a stronger performance in the third quarter, scoring 14 points, but the Trojans outpaced the Wolverines putting up 23 points, increasing their lead to 18 points. 

 Although both teams added to their totals by the end of the third, neither team scored until halfway into the quarter. The first score of the half came with 4:08 to go when Shirts made a 3-pointer at the top for Weiser. 

 Right after Weiser’s basket, Homedale hit back-to-back 3-pointers. 

 The quarter ended with the Trojans scoring a basket at the buzzer for 2 points. 

 At the end of the third quarter, Homedale had an 18-point lead, 51 to 33. 

 Both teams remained even in the fourth quarter, with each scoring 15 points. 

 Cook contributed all 5 of his points in the fourth quarter. Within the first minute, he hit a 3-pointer. Then, halfway in Cook dribbled upcourt to get into the offense and saw an opening, took the ball to the hoop, and scored a lay-in. 

 Jensen helped Shirts score a couple of quick buckets with a couple of  minutes to go in the game. First, when he was stopped in the paint after a rebound, he kicked it out to Shirts for a short jump shot. Next, Jensen secured a loose ball and passed it to an open Shirts for 2 more points. Near the end of the game, Owen Funke grabbed a rebound and went back up for Weiser’s final points of the night. 

 After four quarters of play, Weiser lost 48 to 66. 

 Shirts led the Wolverine scoring with 20 points, Mizar had 9, while Cook and Jensen both had 5. Dolton had 4 points, Phillips contributed 3, and  Funke had 2. Dolton was the high rebounder for Weiser with 8. Mizar and Shirts each had 5 rebounds, and Mizar and Jensen both had 4 assists.

 Scores at the end of quarters:

Weiser Homedale

1st: 8 13

2nd: 19 28     

3rd: 33 51

4th: 48 66