3 straight hard fought games takes its toll on Spartans
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE) Sophomore Travis Mathews pulls up for a jump shot during the game against Newport on Friday.
After suffering a thrilling triple overtime defeat to Riverside last Tuesday, the Priest River boys basketball team walked into the gym at Clark Fork on Thursday already feeling a bit fatigued.
But the Spartans fought all game and after trailing 32-30 at halftime, Priest River outscored the Wampus Cats 36-26 in the second half to capture a 66-58 victory.
But just like the girls, the boys faced the uphill battle of playing three games in three days and on Friday night in Newport it looked like the Spartans left everything they had in the tank on the court.
And it didn’t help that sophomore Travis Mathews sprained his ankle in the win over the Wampus Cats and Trentyn Kreager was sick all day prior to the game with the Grizzlies.
Despite all that, the game with Newport was a back and forth battle that came down to the final minutes. Ultimately, the Grizzlies prevailed taking down Priest River 55-50.
“We’re not healthy by any means,” Priest River head coach Kevin Wylie said after the game. “Definitely thought we had some chances to take the win but for us, as far as this year goes compared to last year, it’s night and day so I’m more than happy with it.”
With Brennan rolling his ankle early on in the contest, the Spartans were desperate for someone to fill the void with Brennan not at 100 percent. That person was senior Jayden Hahn, who went off scoring 20 points and knocking down four 3-pointers.
Priest River returned home Saturday to face Wallace and the culmination of three straight tightly contested affairs took its toll as a Spartan team riddled with injuries and sickness lost 60-44.
“We were tired and it showed right from the start,” Wylie wrote in a text. “We just ran out of energy.”
Several players stepped up for the Spartans including senior Cameron Bell who led the team with 12 points on four 3-pointers. Senior Jantzen Lucas and freshman Jace Yount also each tallied 9 points.
Wylie said the team will use the Christmas break to rest up and get healthy.
“Early on I thought the three week break with no games was kind of going to be a downfall but right now we’re injured,” Wylie said after Friday’s game. “We have a lot to work on so its actually going to play in our favor.”
The Spartans (2-3) return to action Tuesday, Jan. 7 at Genesis Prep.