Bobcats go two for three

The Hot Springs County High School boys basketball team played host to the Big Horn Basin Classic Tournament this past weekend. The varsity Cats came into the tournament at 6 and 2 for their efforts so far this season. With all ten players sitting in double-digits in points, Thermopolis was set to make a respectable showing in the contest.

On Friday, the Cats paired up with the 2A team from Greybull and came away with a 62-20 win. All ten players put up points in the game, with Thermopolis feasting on the fast break, for point scoring layups. Brody Potter put up two dunks, while Dell Dukes had a very good game with several timely steals and pulling down significant rebounds for putback scores.

Next up were the 1A Huskies of Burlington. Again, the Cats were dominant – winning by a score of 84-56. In the first half, Brody Potter made a picturesque reverse layup; Cody Bomengen had a powerful blocked shot and a dunk; and Dell Dukes followed his own missed three-point shot, getting a rebound, and driving through three Huskies for two points. Andrue Howell and Dell Dukes each had successful three-point shots.

In the second half, the Cats stretched the court, and put up a furiously fast pace, which the Huskies were not able to defend. Cody Bomengen displayed an eye pleasing spin move, leaving the defender with those proverbial headlights in the eyes, putting up two more points.

Saturday, found the Cats pitted against the Panthers from Powell. Powell came into the weekend undefeated at 5 and 0 and proceeded to show the strengths that had gotten them there. The Bobcats came out a little tentative in the first period, and although Thermopolis played well through much of the first three periods, even holding the Panthers to just one point through most of the second period, the poised and polished play of the senior players from Powell allowed them to pull away in the fourth. Powell was, by far, the best team the Cats faced in the tournament and the Panthers won by a score of 68-43. Powell finished their weekend with the tournament championship.

After the game, coach Shane Corpening commented, "The Powell team is loaded with seniors, who have played together since they were freshman. We were not getting many good looks from outside the arc, and were not getting our long shots to drop. On their part, Powell was hitting their threes with confidence."

Indeed, Jordon of Powell came off the bench, shooting 50% from the arc, and proceeded to drop five three-point shots in the game. That's what you call "a hot hand."

In the contest, Armani Dukes had 10 points (going 5 of 8 from the line); Zak Hastie had 10 points (including two three-pointers) and Brody Potter had 6 points.

Conference play begins this week, with the Cats traveling to Powell for a rematch against the Panthers.

"It's an opportunity for us to show that we can play a full game against the caliber of team that Powell sends to the floor. We'll put in a new offensive plan for that game, and if we can keep our confidence up for the full twenty-four minutes, we have a very good chance to bring home a win," said coach Corpening.

See the school calendar on this page for game times.