THERMOPOLIS – The Pinedale High School (PHS) Lady Wranglers swept the competition in week 11 of the regular season, beginning with a blowout 77-36 victory against cross-county rival, the Big Piney Lady Punchers, on Thursday, Feb. 15.

The Lady Wranglers left it all on the court at an away game against the Thermopolis Lady Bobcats on Feb. 17, scoring their seventh consecutive win and fourth conference victory by an overwhelming 71-38 margin.

Pinedale remains in the No. 1 spot in the 3A Southwest Quadrant with a 4-1 record as the final week in the regular season approaches.

“This was a great weekend of basketball,” head coach Trent Bowers said. “The girls played well and lots of good things happened. This is exciting basketball.”

During the Big Piney game, Lady Wrangler junior Elyn Bowers broke the Pinedale High School all-time career scoring record when she drained her 22nd point against the Lady Punchers. Bowers is currently at 1,389 cumulative career points.

Roxanne Rogers set the previous all-time career scoring record in as a senior in 2022 with 1,346 points.

On Saturday, Bowers netted 41 points against Thermopolis, breaking a PHS record in single-game scoring that Bowers set earlier this season against Evanston at 39 points.

Cross-county rivalry

The Lady Wranglers set the momentum in the first quarter against Big Piney, outscoring the Lady Punchers, 28-6. Pinedale won a physical second quarter, 13-9, to remain ahead, 41-15, at halftime.

A solid Pinedale offense tossed in 17 points over the course of the third quarter while a scrappy Lady Wrangler defense held Big Piney to only eight points.

Pinedale continued to inflict damage in the fourth quarter, topping the Lady Punchers in scoring, 19-13.

Four Lady Wranglers netted double digits against Big Piney, led by Bowers with 22 points. Junior Gabby Rogers totaled 17 points with junior Mae McGuire netting 16 and sophomore Alyxis White 10. McGuire shot at a 100-percent rate from the floor.

An all-sophomore trio rounded out scoring for the Lady Wranglers, with Erica Wilson contributing seven points, Charlotte Hawke three and Haven Whitley two.

On the boards, Bowers tallied seven rebounds with McGuire grabbing six. Rogers and Bowers both delivered seven assists with White and Wilson snatching five steals apiece.

“The cross-county game is always a fun one with a good atmosphere in Big Piney,” coach Bowers said. “We did what we set out to do and scored early. The girls did well with rebounds and assists – this was a good team win. Mae McGuire had her best game ever, shooting a perfect 8-for-8 from the floor.”

Thermopolis

The Lady Wranglers found themselves ahead, 16-10, at the end of the first quarter. Pinedale upped Thermopolis in scoring, 15-10, in the second quarter to remain in the lead, 31-20, at halftime.

Pulling out all the stops in the third quarter, a tenacious Lady Wrangler offense netted 20 points while a powerful Pinedale defense held Thermopolis to seven points. Maintaining the pace into the fourth quarter, Pinedale outscored the Lady Bobcats, 20-11.

Bowers totaled 41 points against Thermopolis, with Rogers and White both adding eight points to the tally and McGuire and Wilson scoring seven apiece.

Bowers went double-double with 10 rebounds. McGuire also dominated the boards with 11 rebounds.

“Four of our players were only a few points away from scoring double digits,” coach Bowers said. “The girls played a fantastic game as a team and are a very unselfish group. They each grasp the concept of ‘we versus me.’ They are a fun group to coach.”

Pinedale rounds out the regular season with a home game against conference rival, Mountain View, on Friday, Feb. 23.

“This will be a pivotal game for us and will prove that we’re up for the competition,” coach Bowers said. “The girls are hungry for revenge against Mountain View.”