Huskies end regular season with two close wins on the road

The Huskies finished up the regular season with two wins on the road in Greybull and Basin. “It was a good weekend of competition before heading into regionals,” said Coach Kirby Winland. “We couldn’t ask for better scheduling with a couple away games that are still close to home to round out the end of our regular season and still against really stiff competition.” 

The first time the Huskies played the Buffs in the Big Horn Basin Hoops Classic, they lost in double overtime. Thursday night proved to be another tight and intense game. Greybull was ahead the majority of the time, leading at the end of all three quarters. With a minute and a half left on the clock in the fourth quarter, the score was tied at 55. Casey McNiven popped a three to put Burlington ahead. Greybull continued to foul in the hopes of a quick possession change but failed to score on their next three times down the court. With free throws from Jordan Michaels and C. McNiven, the Huskies earned a 61-55 win. 

C. McNiven led the team with 16 points and three blocks. Jordan Michaels had a solid game with 12 points and three assists. Joe Bassett added eight rebounds and eight points. 

Saturday proved to be another tight game against Riverside. The Huskies started strong and held the Rebels to seven points in the first quarter, but in the second quarter, the Rebels bounced back even taking the lead which started a sequence of six lead changes throughout the second half. The score was tied at 48 with 4:44 left in the game. Riverside’s Brenton Paxton shot a two that put the Rebels up. C. McNiven responded with a made free throw and a 3, putting Burlington up by two points. Riverside came back and brought the game again within one point and the back and forth continued but a key rebound and made basket by Rykael Andrew put the Huskies up by four. Despite an inbound steal by the Rebels, free throws cemented the deal for the Huskies who prevailed 58-54. 

C. McNiven led the team again with 21 points and three blocks. Michaels added 11 points and three assists. Andrew led rebounding with eight and contributed six points. 

“Our boys had a great game against Greybull and battled through adversity in Basin. We are excited for regionals and ready to go surprise some people,” ended Winland. 

The Huskies earned the Northwest Conference’s No. 3 seed and will face Saratoga Thursday at 2 p.m.  in the first round of regionals in Lander. 

Greybull    17  17  15   6 — 55

Burlington 15  15  13  18 — 61

BURLINGTON — C. McNiven 6-9 2-4 16, Michaels 3-6 5-7 12, Bassett 3-7 2-4 8, McNulty 3-8 1-3 7, Gotfredson 3-8 0-1 6, Perez 1-2 1-2 4, Andrew 2-4 0-0 4, Casey 1-2 0-2 2, H. McNiven 1-1 0-1 2. Totals 23-47 11-23 61. 

3-POINT GOALS -- C. McNiven 2, Michaels 1, Perez 1. REBOUNDS -- Burlington 29 (Bassett 8). STEALS -- Burlington 14 (Gotfredson 4). ASSISTS -- Burlington 9 (Michaels, Casey 3). BLOCKS -- C. McNiven 3. TURNOVERS -- Burlington 26. 

Riverside    7  18  16  13 — 54

Burlington 14  13  19  12 — 58

BURLINGTON — C. McNiven 6-13 5-12 21, Michaels 5-10 0-0 11, Gotfredson 3-8 3-4 9, Andrew 2-8 2-4 6, McNulty 2-2 0-0 5, Bassett 2-5 1-2 5, Perez 0-5 1-4 1. Totals 20-52 12-28 58. 

3-POINT GOALS -- C. McNiven 4, Michaels 1, McNulty 1. REBOUNDS -- Burlington 35 (Andrew 8, Bassett 7). STEALS -- Burlington 9 (Gotfredson 3). ASSISTS -- Burlington 9 (Michaels 3). BLOCKS -- C. McNiven 3, Gotfredson 2. TURNOVERS -- Burlington 18.