by marlys good
The showdown between the Greybull Lady Buffs and Riverside Lady Rebels was not a “showdown” after all. It was all Rebels as they outgunned and “outquicked” the taller Buffs, who lost the contest 56-21.
“I think we got to ourselves more than anything,” said Coach Marty Wrage. “It didn’t look like the same team (we’ve seen in recent games). I was surprised that we come out and played that flat. We just weren’t ready to go.”
The Buffs missed six or seven shots at the start of the game, which did nothing for their confidence, while the shorter, quicker Rebels shot well and hustled. “They did the things they needed to do, and we didn’t,” Wrage admitted.
Down 31-15 at the half, the Buffs came out in the third quarter and put together a little run to make it 35-27 at the end of three. That was all the splash the Buffs could muster as they gave up 21 points and scored just five in the final eight minutes of the game.
“We talked about it after the game and told them, ‘As a team we just can’t play that way. Everybody is involved. (We) coaches didn’t have you ready, you players were not ready. There is no fight in us. Let’s try not to have that kind of performance the rest of the year.’”
Jackie Miller was the only Buff in double digits with 11 points; she added seven rebounds and two assists to her stats. Aubree Craft scored five points, had seven rebounds and two steals, Kirbi Anderson had five points and eight boards and Tyler Anne Brown hit two three-pointers.
The Buffs were outgunned by Lovell Saturday, 71-40, but they played much better. ”The score wasn’t a true test of how we played,” Wrage said. “We shot better, from the field and from the line, played so much harder and better. We played an up-tempo game with them.”
Greybull kept it close, down 29-21 at one point, when Lovell went on a 9-0 run. “We were doing what we needed to do, hustling, nobody fouled out, we rebounded with them, but offensively … ” the Buffs couldn’t keep up. “Lovell is as good a team as we’ll see; they are not weak anywhere. I was just pleased with the effort.”
Anderson and Miller scored in double figures with 14 points (plus eight boards) and 12 points (plus six rebounds) respectively.
The Buffs have worked on playing a more up-tempo game, at a faster pace, and staying out of foul trouble. Wrage has emphasized all season that his “big three” of Miller, Anderson and Craft must stay out of foul trouble, and they managed that better at Lovell. Craft was whistled four times, Miller and Anderson, twice each.
This is a pivotal week for the Buffs as they get their first chance at Rocky Friday night at home at 4 and 5:30, and a second look at the Lady Blue in Shoshoni Saturday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m..
“We have to go out and play hard against everybody” Wrage said. “Hopefully we’ll match up better against Rocky. Keeping players in the game will be very important because the Grizzlies have three big, talented post players who will be a challenge.
Shoshoni beat Greybull on the Buff court, but it was a case of “should have could have” as the Buffs got off to a slow start and “just didn’t play well enough to win; didn’t give ourselves an opportunity. We kept the score to where we wanted it, and drew fouls but couldn’t hit free throws. We just have to do a better job of that.”
Greybull          9    6  11    5 — 31
Riverside        16  15    4  21 — 56
GREYBULL — Jackie Miller 11, Aubree Craft 5, Kyra Cundall 2, Kate Wilkinson 2, Tyler Anne Brown 6, Kirbi Anderson 5.  Totals 9-33 12-27 31.
3-POINT GOALS — Miller.  REBOUNDS — Greybull 26 (Miller 7, Craft 7).  ASSISTS — Greybull 8 (Miller, Cundall, Wilkinson 2).  STEALS — Greybull 7 (Craft, Cundall, Wilkinson 2).  TURNOVERS — Greybull 28.

Greybull    10    7  13  10 — 40
Lovell    19  14  24  14 — 71
GREYBULL — Miller 12, Craft 4, Wilkinson 2, Anderson 14, Brown 7, Michaela Jolley 1. Totals 13-44 12-17 40.
3-POINT GOALS — Brown 2.  REBOUNDS — Greybull 32 (Anderson 8, Miller 6).  ASSISTS — Greybull 8 (Wilkinson 3).  STEALS — Greybull 9 (Wilkinson, Brown 3).  TURNOVERS — Greybull 27.