Communication fuels win

Hanna, Elk Mountain, Medicine Bow (HEM) High School Head Boys Basketball Coach Cliff Jones said the Miners had a good game against the Rawlins JV basketball team on Jan. 8 in Rawlins.

“We played a team that had hungry players,” Jones said. “The Rawlins varsity basketball team had close to four dozen players try out, so you have these good athletes auditioning for that 11 and 12 spot on the team.”

The Miners were not ahead at the end of the first quarter, trailing 13-11.

“The game never got away from us, even though the Outlaws were playing hard,” Jones said. “They were a tough team, but the second quarter we pulled ahead and kept the lead for the rest of the game.”

At halftime the score was 22-18 in favor of the Miners.

“This is the type of game that helps us mentally and physically to get ready for Regionals,” Jones said. “Because they kept it so close, we had to stay concentrated and not let them slip ahead.”

Jones was pleased with junior Brendon Reeves being vocal with his directions on the floor.

“He showed leadership that we lack in a lot of games,” Jones said. “Brendon was talking on the floor, whether it was defensive and offensive. It was great to see and I hope to see more of it as the season progresses.”

Going into the fourth quarter, the Miners were up 31-28.

“We would be up sometimes by five or six points, but the Outlaws would come right back and then the point spread would be two or three points. They never let up and that was good for us.”

Junior Conor McGraw led the Miners with 17 points. His twin brother, Shane, scored 10 points. Reeves scored 9 points with 5 assists. Sophomore Devon Grosstick scored 9 points and had 11 rebounds.

The more balanced scoring of the team was a component Jones was glad to see.

“For us to win games, we have to have balanced scoring and put together four solid quarters,” Jones said. “This game was encouraging from that stance, now we just have to continue to do the same sort of things as the season goes on.”

The Miners finished ahead by four points with the score 46-42.

“This was a win that was good for us as a team,” Jones said.

The next scheduled game is at 1 p.m. on Jan. 19 against Guernsey at HEM.