Tigers lose bid for state

The Encampment Tigers were still licking their wounds Monday after an upset that left them out of the state finals.

“They are disappointed and moping around,” head coach Clint Bromley said of the Tigers.

Bromley said it didn’t set well with the boys to go into regionals with a 19-4 record, have a great season and then not come out with a place in the state finals.

The team started well against the Dubois Rams, picking up a win 69-52, Thursday night.

The No. 1 seed in the Northwest Conference, Burlington Huskies, got the best of the Tigers Friday night with a 30 point spread 47-77. Burlington had a 19-5 overall record, but were undefeated in their conference. Burlington went on to win first place at regionals.

Saturday afternoon, the Tigers had a chance to get back in the game, but lost to the Cokeville Panthers 53-62. That loss ended their bid for a chance at a state title. Cokeville took third place at regionals.

“We lost the rebounding battle in the next two games,” Bromley said of the Burlington and Cokeville game. That, combined with not being able to get anything to fall, sealed the Tigers fate.

One of the Cokeville players had his best game this year, Bromley added.

“The boys are already thinking about next year, ” Bromley said.