2A Boys State Basketball Day 1 Recaps

The Class 2A boys' basketball state championship is going on in Casper. There are six games on the schedule.

WyoPreps is doing brief summaries of the games throughout the first day on the action at Casper College and the Ford Wyoming Center.

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Game 5: Big Piney 64 Sundance 61 - OT (semifinal #1)

Edwin Gonzales made a step-back 3-pointer with 36 seconds left in overtime that propelled Big Piney to a 64-61 win in overtime over Sundance on Friday night.

It puts the Punchers into the 2A boys' championship game and is their first appearance in a title game since 1982.

It was 12-12 after the first. Sundance took a 23-18 lead at halftime. Both teams scored 17 in the third quarter. The Bulldogs had a 47-38 lead after a 14-3 run that ended the third and began the fourth quarter. The Punchers chipped away and tied it on two free throws with 4.7 seconds left. It was 59-59 at the end of regulation.

In OT, Sundance scored first. Big Piney tied it on a Kaden Raza basket. That set the stage for Gonzales triple. The Bulldogs had three chances to tie the game in the final 36 seconds. All of them came up short. The two teams were a combined 3-14 on field goals in the extra session.

Raza scored 18 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for Big Piney. Gonzales added 16 points. The Punchers shot 45 percent in the game. They had a 44-32 edge on the glass and overcame 23 turnovers.

Sundance was led by Lane Gill with 17 points. Landon Martin had 15. The Bulldogs shot 35 percent from the field. They also had 13 steals.

The Punchers will play for the 2A title at 5 p.m. on Saturday in Casper at the Ford Wyoming Center.

Game 6: Rocky Mountain 50 Pine Bluffs 45 (semifinal #2)

The Rocky Mountain Grizzlies outlast the Pine Bluffs Hornets 50-45 Friday night in Casper to clinch a spot in the 2A boys' championship game.

Taylor Winland scored 18 points, and Jess Wambeke added 12, ten of which came in the second half.

Neither team led by more than five points. The game had 10 lead changes and was tied nine times.

It was 38-36 Hornets after the third quarter. Rocky Mountain grabbed a 44-42 lead with just under three minutes left. It was 47-45 when Pine Bluffs got a defensive stop inside of a minute remaining. A turnover with 35 seconds left proved costly. The Grizzlies made two free-throws with 25.2 seconds left and a 49-45 lead. After a missed three for the Hornets, Rocky Mountain got the rebound and made one free throw that sealed their spot in the title game.

The Grizzlies shot 42 percent for the game. They enjoyed a 39-22 rebounding advantage. Rocky Mountain did go 0-11 from deep.

Pine Bluffs shot 38 percent in the game. The Hornets were led by Stuart Lerwick with 15 points. They hung in the game thanks to only three turnovers.

The Grizzlies will face Big Piney in the 2A boys' championship at 5 p.m. on Saturday in Casper at the Ford Wyoming Center.

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Game 1: Big Piney 37 Big Horn 34

The Big Piney Punchers rallied past the Big Horn Rams to advance to the semifinals of the state tournament.

Big Horn was in control of this game until the end of the 4th quarter. There were five total lead changes in the game.

The Punchers trailed 27-26 going into the 4th quarter. Big Piney outscored Big Horn 11-7 to get the victory.

The leading scorer for Big Piney was Carlos Munoz with nine total points in the game. Munoz also added six total rebounds and one assist.

Big Piney outrebounded Big Horn 33-25 and was able to shoot 36.1% from the field.

Cade Butler of Big Horn led the Rams with 15 points. Butler hit three 3-point shots in the loss.

Big Piney will play Sundance will play at 7:30 p.m. on Friday night

Big Horn will play Greybull on Saturday morning.

Game 2: Sundance 55 Greybull 36

The Sundance Bulldogs rolled past the Greybull Buffalos on Friday afternoon.

A strong third quarter by the Bulldogs helped get them to the victory today. Sundance outscored Greybull 14-2 in the third quarter to run away with the game.

The Bulldogs' lead grew to as much as 31 points at one point in the game.

Brad Kruger was the leading scorer for the Bulldogs with 14 points on the game. The Bulldogs shot 44.2% from the field and outrebounded the Buffalos 35-24.

Jesus Hernandez was the leading scorer for Greybull with 10 total points.

Sundance will play Big Piney in the semifinal matchup at 7:30 p.m. on Friday night.

Greybull will play Big Horn on Saturday morning.

Game 3: Pine Bluffs 58 Wind River 41

The Pine Bluffs Hornets beat the Wind River Cougars to advance to the semifinals at the 2A state tournament.

Pine Bluffs held as big as a 22 point lead in the game. They 30-15 before Wind River made a push and got within 39-30. The Hornets responded with the next nine points.

Pine Bluffs shot 48 percent from the field and knocked down seven 3-pointers to help them in the victory. The Hornets were led by Stuart Lerwick, who had 28 points in the game. He was able to hit five 3-pointers and grab six total rebounds.

The leading scorer for Wind River was Jaycee Herbert with 15 points in the loss.

Pine Bluffs will play Rocky Mountain at 9 p.m. on Friday night.

Wind River will play Glenrock on Saturday morning.

Game 4: Rocky Mountain 72 Glenrock 50

The Rocky Mountain Grizzlies blew out the Glenrock Herders to advance to the semifinals at the state tournament.

Rocky Moutain was in control for the majority of the game and led by as much as 31 points.

The Grizzlies shot 50% from the field and outrebounded Glenrock 46-26.

Four Rocky Mountain players scored in double-digits. The leading scorer was Jess Wambeke who had 16 points. Taylor Winland added 14 points and five rebounds in the win.

Glenrock was paced by Cody Piasecki with 14 points.

Rocky Mountain will play Pine Bluffs at 9 p.m. on Friday night.

Glenrock will play Wind River on Saturday morning.