The Green River High Lady Pirates were hoping for a longer stay at the 1-A girls basketball state tournament at the Sevier Valley Center in Richfield but this year it was two games and done for the team.
Green River opened the tournament against Intermountain Christian and lost 49-37. Green River got behind early in the game, closed the gap in the third quarter but then Intermountain Christian used a big fourth quarter to cement the victory.
On Thursday, Green River lost a heart breaker to Tabiona 46-44 to be eliminated from the four-day tournament. Green River led early in the game at 5-4 and then took the lead for only the second time in the game early in the fourth quarter at 32-30 but was not able to hold on for the win.
Against Tabiona, the Pirates picked up the first six fouls of the ballgame to put themselves in an early hole as Tabiona went to the free throw line quickly plus Megan Hatt was in foul trouble with three in the first quarter.
Tabiona also had the early rebounding advantage and several times beat the Pirates down court on fast break opportunities. Despite all this, the Pirates hung in there and only trailed by three after the first quarter at 11-8.
Green River tied the score in the third quarter at 18-18 but after Sara Swalberg picked up her fourth foul, Tabiona scored the next five points to open the lead back up. Green River was down 28-22 as time ran out in the third period but Tracy Engleman hit a long 3-pointer to keep the score close.
Hatt had a good fourth quarter going and helped keep the score close until she fouled out of the game with 3:30 left. The score was tied at 32-32 when she departed. Megan picked up several key rebounds, scored three points and had a steal in an active quarter.
After falling behind 40-34, Jill Vetere hit a 3-point shot and then a regular basket to get the score to 40-39 with 1:12 left. That turned out to be as close as they got in the game as Tabiona kept up their scoring to maintain their lead. Engleman hit another 3-pointer as time ran out to get to the final score.
In the game, Vetere led the way with 14 points, six rebounds and two steals. Swalberg had nine points, three rebounds and two steals before she fouled out late in the fourth quarter. Hatt scored five points, had five rebounds and a blocked shot. Courtney Carter scored four points, Engleman scored eight points and Michaela Hughes scored four points.
Green River hurt themselves at the free throw line throughout the game as they finished at six for 17. In the fourth quarter, they were three for secen but twice missed the front end of a one and one.
Against Intermountain Christian, Green River fell behind 10-6 in the first quarter, 25-13 at the half, narrowed the gap to 33-38 after three periods before losing the game. Swalberg led the team in scoring with 19 points including five made 3-pointers. Engleman scored six points, Carter and Vetere each scored four points and Hatt and Cassi Mecham each scored two points.
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