Weiser’s state run a bust with loss to Kimberly

It’s been at least seven years since Weiser has sent a boys basketball team to State. That is until this year when Weiser traveled to Mountain Home on Saturday, March 1 to play the Kimberly Bulldogs. They call it a State play-in game so not an out right automatic berth. 

 With the way the Wolverines had been playing, hopes were high that they could continue the run and play this coming weekend at the State tournament. Kimberly had other plans and dominated from the start. They controlled the boards while Weiser’s shots were missing. When Weiser picked up the pace in the fourth quarter, scoring 33 points, the gap started to close. Unfortunately, the gap was too much as Weiser’s run for state ended with a loss 77-67.

 It was a couple of trips up and down the court before Kimberly scored first. Kolin Cook made a free throw, 2-1 K. Josh Mizar used a half Euro step for the bucket, 4-3 K. Cook using superb defense forced a Kimberly turn over. As stated, the shots weren’t falling. Shayd Crossley saved a ball by bouncing it off a Kimberly player. Mizar with a much needed three, 9-6 K. Garrett Walker to Crossley for the bucket, 9-8 K at 2:33 on the clock. Garrett Walker with the elevated jumper, 14-10 K. At the end of one, Kimberly 22, Weiser 10. Kimberly really scored in that last two minutes.

 The second quarter was nearly even in scoring. Mizar was fouled sinking both free throws, 24-12 K. Weiser called time out at 5:22 trailing 27-12. Kimberly went to a full court pressure defense. Mizar blocked a shot. Garrett Walker was fouled making his first free throw, 29-13 K. Garrett Walker inbound the ball to Crossley in the corner for a three, 29-16 K. Garrett Walker with a half hook shot for two, 35-18 K. Mizar with the drive for the hoop, 35-20 K. Crossley with the bucket, 38-22 K.  Karsten Walker fought for an “O” rebound. He would pass to Brayden Nordgren for the three, 40-25 K. That’s how the score stood at the half.

 Weiser had the ball to open the third quarter and ratcheted up the pace. Isai Herrera to Crossley for a high jumper, the foul and the made free throw, 40-28 K. Mizar intercepted a Kimberly pass with Cook streaking down the court. Cook received the pass and finished with the lay up, 40-30 K. Kimberly called time out at 6:24. That was timely called as it calmed the Bulldogs down and they began scoring again. The ball was loose on the court after a Weiser missed shot, Mizar corralled it and fed it to Herrera for the mid range shot, 48-32 K. Garrett Walker with the jumper for two, 49-34 K. Kimberly continued to pour in shots as Weiser was trying desperately to stop the momentum. At the end of three, Kimberley 57, Weiser 34.

 This would be the final quarter this team played together, sadly. Weiser had the ball. Mizar to Nordgren for the corner three, 57-37 K.  Mizar stole the ball and with his back flat to the floor passed to Cook who used the fast break to finish with the lay up, 59-39 K. At 5:51, a Kimberly player was hit with a “T” foul. Mizar sank both free throws, 64-41 K. Herrera was fouled draining both his free throws, 66-43 K. On the fast break, Garrett Walker to Nordgren for a three, 66-46 K. Weiser called time out at 4:59. Weiser tried for a full court pressure defense. Cook with the “D” rebound went coast to coast with the lay up, 66-48 K. Mizar hit a three, 66-51 K. Weiser called time out at 4:00. Kimberly called time out at 3:44. K. Walker with a steal. Cook with the hesitation at the free throw line hit the shot, 69-53 K. Cook hit a three, 71-56 K. Garrett Walker to Nordgren for another three, 73-59 K. Cook banked home the shot, 75-61 K. Weiser called time out at 1:20. The last two seniors, Kaghn Cluff and Diego Delgadillo came in the game for their last hurrah. Cook from the top of the key hit a three, 77-64 K. Mizar would finish out the scoring with his own three, 77-67 K. It was a bitter loss and a sad end to a terrific season.

 Scoring: Mizar and Cook 17 each, Nordgren 12, Crossley 10, Garrett Walker 7 and Herrera 4.