Bobcats make statement at Flaming Gorge Classic

After opening their season with a win against the 3A Lander Tigers on Friday, December 13, the Hot Springs County High School Bobcats headed down to the south-west corner of the state last weekend, to compete in the Flaming Gorge Classic, at Rock Springs and Green River.

The Classic is a large event, drawing teams from fourteen schools to play in both varsity and junior varsity games. Class 2A, Class 3A and Class 4A teams were all represented in the teams attending the tournament. There were to be no easy games for the Bobcats – as they were pitted against two 4A schools, and one 3A school, however; the Bobcats served notice that they will be a force to reckoned with in this year’s Class 2A season.

On Friday morning, the Bobcats faced the 3A Glenrock Herders at Lincoln Middle School in Green River. As the game began, the Cats started slow, becoming victims to the quick, and opportunistic, hands of the Herders. The Cats hung tough, however, and battled the Herders at every opportunity.

With the Herders also starting slow, the game was a back and forth affair, until the fourth quarter, when things began to really gel for the Cats. With the score tied at 34 as the quarter began, the Cats proceeded to put up twenty-nine points in the fourth – coming away with an 83 to 66 win.

Zak Hastie had four 3-pointers, while Cody Bomengen, Brody Potter and Bridger Peil each had a single 3-pointer. Potter had two nice dunks, and led the team’s scoring with 17 points. The Cats had nine players putting up points in the game – with five being in the double digits.

On Friday afternoon, the Cats played the 4A Riverton Wolverines, and again, came away with a hard-fought win. In the first half, the Cats played a little loose, and were plagued by some mental errors that led to turn overs. Dell Dukes, however, picked up where he had left off in the morning game, and played a tight and spirited defense.

The Cats out-shot the Wolverines in the first half, which proved to be key, as the Bobcats shooting went ice cold in the fourth quarter. Indeed, the first Bobcats points of the fourth didn’t hit the scoreboard until there was just 2:45 left in the game.

Brody Potter led the scoring with 16 points. Zak Hastie had 10 points.

Rolling into the Saturday afternoon game, the Bobcats were 3 and 0 for the young season, and looked to be on a roll. The 4A team from Rock Springs, however, had other things in mind.

Rock Springs was the most evenly matched team the Cats have seen this year, in terms of size, and the game was very physical. The referees vacillated between “letting the boys play,” and “calling it close,” which led to a good deal of chirping between the two squads - and to a great deal of foul trouble for the Cats to have to work through.

Cody Bomengen picked up two fouls in the first quarter, and fouled out in the fourth quarter. Dell Dukes also fouled out in the fourth. With Cody and Dell in foul trouble, Brody Welch and Nolan Collins got some additional playing time, and each contributed well to the team’s cause.

With Thermopolis down by just one point in the fourth quarter, with 4:30 left in the game, the Cats shooting went ice cold, and the team began to lose focus - making ill-considered passing attempts across the full court, or long down the court, which invariably, ended up in the control of the Tigers. At game’s end, the Bobcats had suffered their first loss of the season - by a score of Rock Springs 59, and Thermopolis 53.

Although the loss surely left a sting, the Bobcats proved they can hold their own against a very talented and determined 4A team. With “help” from the refereeing crew, the prolific foul count caused a loss of offensive production, which really hurt the team’s effort.

Next up for the Bobcats will be the 2A Smackdown Tournament, in Wright and Sundance, coming up after the holiday break, on January 10-11, 2025.