Tigers take it home

Encampment works for victory against Cokeville, beats HEM for homecoming win

As they celebrated their homecoming week, the Encampment Tigers achieved two victories in front of the hometown crowd as they hosted the Cokeville Panthers (10-4, 1-2) on Thursday and the Hanna, Elk Mountain and Medicine Bow (HEM) Miners (8-6, 2-0) on Saturday. This was the second venture in the Valley for Cokeville and the second lost dealt to them while here. While the Tigers trailed for most of the game and it looked like it might enter overtime in the fourth quarter, the Encampment boys pulled out the victory in the final seconds of the game.

Encampment vs.

Cokeville

The last time the Cokeville Panthers were in the Valley, they were hosted by the Saratoga Panthers and were sent leaving with a loss as Saratoga beat them 83-78. For most of the game against Encampment, it looked as if the visiting Panthers might actually leave the Valley with a win as they led through most of the game.

Despite the single-digit deficit they were dealing with, the Tigers held tough as they continually worked to overcome their conference rivals. As the first quarter ended, Cokeville was leading by only 3 points. At the half, the Panthers would only be able to increase that lead to 6 points and it would be the most they would lead in the game. Going into the half, the Tigers trailed 32-38.

Coming back, Encampment continued to fight for control of their court. Communication was evident as the Tigers yelled plays to each other while heading down the hardwood. Cokeville, not wanting to be handed another loss while in the Valley, tried to fight back. It wasn't until the fourth quarter that Encampment managed to get ahead and used that momentum to stay ahead.

Most of the fourth quarter saw the Panthers still leading Encampment, but the Tigers continued their communication and worked on their defense to keep Cokeville from pulling ahead anymore. It wasn't until the final minute of the game that the Encampment boys were leading, but only by 1 point. As the clock counted down, a layup from senior Kyler Miller put the Tigers ahead by 3 points.

It was on that final layup that Miller was fouled and stood at the freethrow line and, while the first shot missed its mark, made his second free throw with only a second left and putting Encampment ahead by four. As the buzzer sounded, and both the crowd and the players roared, the Tigers ended the game 60-56, securing another conference win.

Sophomore Dalton Peterson led the Tigers against Cokeville as he scored 19 points grabbed 17 rebounds and had 5 assists. Junior Dayne Anderson followed with 14 points and 8 rebounds, Miller scored 13 points and junior Reid Schroeder tallied 7 points with 7 assists.

Encampment vs. HEM

Following their win against the Cokeville Panthers, Encampment hosted the Miners in Tiger Nation on Saturday to cap off their homecoming week. The last time the two teams met was in Hanna, when HEM hosted the Tigers on Jan. 5. While there, Encampment defeated the Miners 69-52. In the rematch, that 17 point lead would be nearly doubled as the Tigers ended the game ahead 33 points 74-41.

Peterson was the lead scorer, again, as he made 24 points and had 9 rebounds, 7 assists and 5 steals. Miller followed with 16 points and 12 rebounds, senior Sean Stewart scored 11 points and had 5 rebounds and Schroeder scored 9 points and had 13 assists and 7 steals.

Following their two victories this last week, the Encampment Tigers are now 15-1 for the season and 4-1 for conference. The Tigers will travel northwest this weekend as they have two rematches; one against Cokeville at 4 p.m. on Feb. 8 and another noon on Feb. 9 against the Farson-Eden Pronghorns (15-3, 4-1) and are currently standing at No. 1 in the 1A Southwest Conference, just ahead of the Tigers.

 

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