The Green River Pirates boys basketball team played in their region tournament this past week at the Spartan Center in Castle Dale. They were matched up on Thursday with Manila and came away with the win. Friday evening against Duchesne they lead at the half but ended up just two points short at the end of the game. The final tally was Green River 50 and Duchesne 52.
Back in action on Saturday afternoon the Pirates led 26-22 at halftime over the team from Tabiona. The Pirates came out smoking in the second half and added four quick points to bring the score to 30-22 with 6:07 left in the third quarter. The Pirates upped their score with three baskets and led 36-26 with 3:09 left in the third quarter. Tabiona started to inch their way back into the game and at the end of the third quarter the score stood at 40-35 with the Pirates in the lead.
Into the fourth quarter the Pirates kept the Tigers at bay and added a basket to their tally. The Tigers added a basket and with 6:45 left in the fourth quarter the score was 42-37. Things became rather heated at this time and the Tabiona coach was slapped with a technical foul. Kevin Keele for Green River was brought to the line for the free shots. He scored on both of them and the total was now 46-37. Gabrin Ekker was fouled next for the Pirates and he sunk the two shots to bring the total to 48-37. The Tigers were beginning to show their frustration as they intentionally fouled Jason Luke. He missed his free throw and Ekker put in the two free shots for the flagrant foul.
Ekker was again fouled by the Tigers and drained the two free throws. So with 3:47 left to play the Pirates were on top 54-40. Luke was fouled but unable to convert on the free shots. Bowman Mitchell picked off the ball from the Tigers and brought it down the floor and was fouled on the shot. He made one free throw and missed the other. Lance Richards was also fouled but unable to add to the Pirate tally. On the other end of the floor Mitchell fouled out of the game. The Tigers strategy of fouling to stop the clock was used again as Ekker was fouled again where he made one of two shots. The Pirates led by 56-45 with 1:30 left to go. Ekker added two more foul shots and brought the Pirate total to 58. Luke was again fouled and came to the line where his foul shot shooting continued to plague him as the two shots went astray. With 12.6 seconds left in the game Richards was fouled and added to the Pirate total. The final score of the game was 60-46.
Winning this game led the Pirates into a game on Monday to determine if they will advance to the state tournament in Cedar City. The Green River Pirate team consists of Kedric Bayles, Jake Mecham, Lance Richards, Jared Johnson, Gabrin Ekker, Bowman Mitchell, Kevin Keele, Kody King, Jason Luke and Rocky Pace.
Pirates Battle Through Tournament
