JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — A little home cooking is just what the doctor ordered for the Jackson boys basketball team. After a l-o-n-g road trip that tested the Broncs resolve, the 83002 seemed to infuse Jackson with the confidence and composure they needed to knock out a couple of wins over the weekend.
Jackson 44, Rock Springs 43
Jackson’s nail-biting 1-point win over the Tigers was maybe a little too close for comfort for coach Hayden Hatfield. Jackson’s 8-point lead after one quarter disappeared at the half when both teams headed to the locker room knotted at 28-28.
The 3rd quarter was again a rough one for Jackson. With just 8 minutes to play, the Broncs were staring at a 5-point deficit 41-36 with their big man Andrew Hanna all but neutralized by Rock Springs’ big Isaac Schoenfeld.
It was then Jackson dialed up the defense and all but stifled the Tigers for the final 8 minutes. Rock Springs scored just one basket in the entire 4th quarter while Jackson waited and hoped the offense would click in.
It did. Sort of. The Broncs scratched and clawed their way back into it, trailing by just 1 when Sam Scott went to the line with ice in his veins and buried two pressure free throws to give Jackson a lead they would nurse for the final 35 seconds and the win.
Gavin Keelin had a strong game to lead the Broncs with 16 points and 5 rebounds. Seb Brunner added 15.
Jackson 50, Natrona 38
The Broncs grew up practically overnight when they were asked time and again to reach deep for a little more. Natrona pushed back in every quarter to tie the score, only to have Jackson tamp down the insurgency and retake a lead until as the quarter ended.
Andrew Hanna found his game again and exploded for a double-double (16 points, 11 boards, and 2 blocks). Gavin Keelin and AJ Fowler pitched in 9 apiece, and the Broncs were able to final put the Mustangs away with a dominant 4th quarter.
Next up
With the victories, the Broncs improve to 7-8 on the season, 3-4 in the 4A. Jackson hosts archrival Star Valley this Friday night before boarding an early bus for Green River Saturday.
