BIG PINEY – The Big Piney High School Puncher basketball team won a decisive 58-52 conference victory against the Kemmerer Rangers at an away game on Feb. 17.

A fast and furious Puncher offense netted 20 points in the opening quarter while a tenacious Big Piney defense held Kemmerer to 12 points, laying the foundation for the Punchers’ success at the end of regulation.

The Punchers maintained the initiative through the second quarter and remained ahead by nine points, 33-24, at halftime. Big Piney widened its lead, 48-38, in the third quarter.

The Rangers edged up and managed to narrow the deficit late in the fourth quarter with Big Piney leading by a single possession, 55-52, at 36 seconds remaining.

Pivotal free throws by senior Seth Stoutenburg and junior Cael Espenscheid and a crucial rebound on a missed 3-pointer by junior Cole Walton secured the win for Big Piney.

Big Piney’s victory against Kemmerer sealed the Punchers’ position as the No. 2 seed at the 2A West Regional Tournament this weekend in Riverton. The Punchers kick off the event with a game against the No. 3 seed, Wind River, on Thursday, Feb. 22 at 1:30 p.m.

On Thursday, Feb. 15, the Punchers hosted the Wranglers for the annual cross-county rivalry game. Big Piney kept it a one-possession game in the first quarter with Pinedale ahead, 16-14, as the second quarter commenced.

Pinedale topped the Punchers in scoring in both the second and third quarters to expand the Wranglers’ lead. Big Piney battled back in the fourth quarter to outscore Pinedale, 17-13, but came up short in bridging the gap and the Wranglers won, 67-56.

Kemmerer

The Punchers roared onto the court in the first quarter against the Rangers, netting 20 points while holding Kemmerer to 12.

Big Piney scored first with a pair of free throws by Stoutenburg before Kemmerer went on a 6-point run.

Stoutenburg responded with two outside shots to tie the game, 8-8. The Rangers managed to net a 3-pointer and edge up, 11-8.

Taking aim, Walton drained an outside shot and the game reached a stalemate again at 11 points.

Stoutenburg followed with another outside shot and Big Piney captured the lead, 14-11.

Stoutenburg snatched a steal, setting up Walton to toss in his second 3-pointer. Senior Bill Hibbert rebounded a missed shot by the Rangers and delivered the ball to Walton to net outside shot No. 3.

The Punchers prevailed in the second quarter by a single point, 13-12. Hibbert led the Big Piney offense in the second quarter with six points. Stoutenburg, Walton and junior Ben Ferguson each scored from inside the perimeter while junior Ashton Bennett made a free throw.

The halftime score favored Big Piney, 33-24.

Hitting the court in the third quarter, the Puncher offense tallied 15 points to 14 by Kemmerer.

Stoutenburg opened the second half with a 3-pointer. Espenscheid blocked an attempted shot by the Rangers before Stoutenburg sank another outside shot.

Walton netted a pair of 3-pointers and Ferguson rounded out scoring with a free throw.

The Rangers made a bid to overtake the Punchers in the fourth quarter, topping Big Piney in scoring, 14-10. Stoutenburg and Espenscheid netted three decisive free throws in the final seconds of the game to maintain the lead for Big Piney.

Stoutenburg led the Punchers in scoring against the Rangers with 25 points. Walton tallied 22 points, Hibbert six, Ferguson three with a free throw apiece by Bennett and Espenscheid.