Cowboys Have Big Week

NORTH GEM – The North Gem Cowboys capped off their regular season with a big win on Senior night.  They started the night off by honoring their four senior basketball players Helber Langrus, Jack Perry, Mayson Jenkins, and Evan O’Brien as well as their two senior cheerleaders Journey Gunter and Alyson Reed.  The Cowboys opponent would be district foe Grace Lutheran.  Earlier in the season the Cowboys had handed the Royals a loss in Pocatello 57-44.  Even though it was senior night it would be the sophomore Setser that would have the hot hand early in this one pouring in seven points in the first quarter helping propel the Cowboys to a first quarter lead of 11-5.  From there the lead would just grow for North Gem.  Coming out in the second quarter it would be Hayden that would heat up from behind the ark.  Hayden would combine with senior Langrus to hit four shots from three point distance.  The Cowboys would outscore the Royals 18-4 in the period bringing the halftime score to 29-9.  The second half would see a much tighter game as the Royals would make a valiant effort to try to get back in the game.  However the Cowboys would not be denied the victory and it would be senior O’Brien who would help seal the victory as he scored seven of his eleven points in the fourth.  The Cowboys put together a real team effort as every player contributed in some form to get the victory 53-31.  After the handshakes the players and student body met at midcourt to sing the school song and waive the Cowboy flag proudly led by senior Mayson Jenkins.  Scoring for the Cowboys Hayden-20, O’Brien-11, Langrus-9, Setser-9, Perry-2, Hatch-2.

After the big senior night win for the Cowboys they jumped right into district tournament play on Friday.  The Cowboys would come into the tournament as the number three seed. Their first round opponent would be the Mackay Miners.  These two teams met up twice during the regular season and split the series.  North Gem won the first game at home clear back in December by a slim five point margin.  In the rematch in Mackay it would be the Miners that would come out on top 61-55.  Fortunately for the Cowboys they did enough in the rest of district play to earn the home court advantage for this important tournament game.  Knowing the results of the two previous matchups the Cowboys knew they had to be prepared and play a complete game.  That is exactly what they did.  The Cowboys jumped out to a commanding 12-4 lead in the first.  That lead would be narrowed slightly as the Miners would hit a three point basket late in the quarter bringing the score to 12-7.  In the second the teams would start off trading baskets before Mackay would call a timeout with 5:37 left in the quarter.  Out of the timeout things wouldn't change much as the defenses would go to work limiting scoring and Coach Corta would use a timeout leading 18-13.  The timeout proved beneficial for the Cowboys as they were then able to push the score to 25-14 going into the halftime break.  In the third period of action the Cowboys would catch fire.  Just two and a half minutes into the quarter they would go on a 9-3 run and would just increase the lead from there.  Reeling, the Miners would use a timeout at the 3:36 mark to try to catch their breath and stop the Cowboy onslaught as North Gem’s lead had increased to 42-20.  The Cowboys were not finished yet.  North Gem would continue their fast paced play running the court and taking advantage of fast break opportunities.  As the third quarter came to a close the Cowboys were up 58-24.  The fourth quarter would see a running clock and the Cowboys would take their foot off the accelerator.  North Gem cruises to a big victory in this one with a final of 61-34.  Scoring for the Cowboys O’Brien-18, Hatch-13, Hayden-12, Setser-10, C.Yost-6, Langrus-2.  The Cowboys advance in the tournament and will have to travel to number two seeded Watersprings on Wednesday February 14th.