JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — The Broncs rocked the Plainsmen 9-1 on Thursday afternoon to earn a date with the Sheridan Broncs in the semifinals.
The boys did not mess around with the #3 ranked Laramie team, posting a 5-0 lead at the half on 4 goals from Daniel Huerta. The junior was joined on the scoring sheet by Hunter Dewell and Teddy Opler.
The emergence of Huerta, who now has 17 goals on the season, has been partly owed to opponents keying on other perceived dangers in the Jackson attack, and partly because Huerta is that good and getting better.
“Teams are going to key on Teddy [Opler] and Charlie [Hoelscher], but Danny [Huerta] is a pretty good Plan B, if that’s what you want to call him,” coach Matt Hoelscher said. “He puts himself in the right spot most of the time but was having trouble finishing earlier in the season. With him coming around it really gives us a well-balanced attack.”
The Broncs kept up the pressure with 4 more in the 2nd half of play, even with the JV team playing much of the final 40 minutes.
The Plainsmen came into state play with a record of 9-7 in the weaker 4A East. Jackson (16-2) made quick work of Laramie to advance to the semifinal round where they will play Sheridan (15-3), the top ranked team in the 4A East at 4pm on Friday.
The Broncs are perhaps eyeing a re-rematch with Kelly Walsh for all the marbles on Saturday. To get there, the Trojans would need to beat Thunder Basin today, and Jackson needs to get past Sheridan—a team they should beat but coach Hoelscher is not looking past the #2 seed in the 4A East.
“I watched film on them; saw them play yesterday [against Evantson],” Hoelscher said. “They beat Thunder last week—a top-ranked team in the East, so they can get it done. They have good size. They are physical. But we should be able to handle them if we can keep the ball on the pitch.”
Hoelscher added he was more worried about the wind than the Broncs of Sheridan when the teams match up Friday at 4pm.
