HEM goes 3-1

"We went 3-1 last week," Cliff Jones, Hanna, Elk Mountain, Medicine Bow (HEM) High School head basketball coach said. He was pleased with what he saw with his team most of the games.

HEM beat the Rawlins JV team 60-55 on Jan 9. It was an exciting, close game that kept the home crowd on the edge of their seats as the Miners beat the Outlaws. Shane McGraw had 32 points and 11 rebounds. His brother Conor had 13 Points and 7 rebounds

"We played well and had the chance to see a lot of different defensive looks over the course of the game," Jones said.

The Miner basketball players didn't have a lot of rest time as they went to the Laramie 6 tournament. The first game they played on Friday was against the Midwest Oilers. HEM won 66-52. Conor McGraw had 26 points 9 rebounds; Shane McGraw scored 21 points and had 10 rebounds; Brendan Reeves made 14 points with 17 rebounds and Tylor Goodro had 12 rebounds.

"It was a very good team effort," Jones said. "We rebounded the ball very well and really limited their second chances, which we felt was a key to being successful in the game."

The second game on Friday against the Meeteese Longhorns did not go as well and the Miners lost 51-43. Conor McGraw scored 22 points with 8 rebounds; Shane McGraw made 10 points and had 10 rebounds.

"We didn't play with a lot of effort and we were not aggressive on the defensive end," Jones said explaining why he felt the team lost.

Saturday, the team went back to its winning ways. HEM beat the Arvada-Clearmont Panthers 61-32. Conor McGraw scored 17 points; Shane McGraw made 15 points and had 9 rebounds; Reeves finished with 11 points.

"We played much better defensively," Jones said. "Tylor Goodro and Devin Grosstick both played solid on that end of the court, which was the key us being successful at the offensive end."

The next game is at 7 p.m. on Jan. 19 at Rock River.