Wolverine boys basketball team takes first round win

 Weiser won the tip-off, but both teams struggled to score initially. The first points came from free throws a minute into the game, when Weiser’s Shayd Crossley was fouled and went to the line. Payette quickly tied the game with a jumper. However, Weiser’s strong defense held the Pirates to a total of just 3 points in the first quarter, with the only other point coming over 3 minutes into the contest.

 Five different Wolverines contributed points in the first period, helping Weiser score 17 points in total. Josh Mizar made the initial field goal for Weiser after stealing the ball right after Payette secured a defensive rebound, resulting in a quick layup. Thirty seconds later, Mizar made a long pass up court to Garrett Walker for another 2 points. On the next trip down the court, Crossley made a nice lob pass over the defense to Isai Herrera for another basket.

 In the final minutes of the period, Crossley had a rebound put-back, Mizar scored after a baseline drive, Crossley added 2 more free throws, and Kolin Cook received a pass from Brayden Nordgren for a deep 3-pointer. At the end of the first quarter, the score was Weiser 17, Payette 3.

 The second quarter was nearly even, with Weiser adding 18 points and Payette 13. For the first 5 minutes, scoring was sporadic, with about 60 seconds between each score. The Pirates started off with a jumper a minute in. With 6 minutes to go, Weiser scored quickly in transition, with Mizar rebounding and passing to Walker at mid-court, who then passed it to Cook for a layup. Almost a minute later, Crossley, with his back to the basket at the free-throw line, executed a spin move for another layup. Cook then scored 2 more points off a steal, driving coast to coast.

 In the final minutes of the second quarter, both teams found the basket more frequently including Crossley who made two 3-pointers from the corner for the Wolverines, and by halftime, Weiser held a commanding 19-point lead, 35-16.

 The third quarter opened with a flurry of 3-pointers from both teams. Weiser started with two: Cook found Mizar near the top of the key, and then Cook hit a 3 of his own 90 seconds later. It was Payette’s turn next, as they also hit two 3-pointers. Halfway through the third, the score was Weiser 41, Payette 28.

 The Wolverines quickly stretched their lead to 20 points when Nordgren had a rebound put-back, followed by Crossley driving in for 2 points. Nordgren scored again during a fast break, receiving a pass from Cook for a left-handed layup, followed by a free throw from Mizar. 

 The third quarter closed out with Payette hitting another 3-pointer, while Weiser’s Owen Funke tipped the ball to Walker for 2 points, and Funke then scored off a rebound. At the end of the third, Weiser led 54 to 31.

 The game concluded as Payette scored only 3 points in the final quarter, matching their output in the opening quarter. The Wolverines initiated a running clock with 3 minutes left when they went up by 30 points, thanks to a 3-pointer from Funke, followed by a 3 from Mizar, and a another 3 from Funke.

 When the final buzzer sounded, Weiser triumphed over Payette with a score of 64 to 34. The Wolverines were led by Crossley, who scored a game-high 18 points, while Mizar added 17 points. Cook contributed 10 points, Funke 8, and both Nordgren and Walker each scored 4, with Herrera chipping in 3 points.

 Scores at the end of quarters:

Weiser Payette

1st: 17 3

2nd: 35 16

3rd: 54 31

4th: 64 34