PINEDALE – An exciting weekend for the Pinedale High School Wrangler boys’ basketball team featured to crucial conference games against Lyman and Lander, with the Wranglers rising to the challenge in both matchups.

Kicking the action off with a home game against Lyman, the Wranglers left it all on the court in the second half against the Eagles to significantly increase a 29-24 halftime advantage into a 61-42 victory at the end of regulation.

Saturday’s game between the Wranglers and the Lander Tigers came down to the wire. The Tigers opened the game with a significant lead in the first quarter, 19-8. Pinedale battled back in an epic second quarter that saw the Wranglers narrow Lander’s advantage to a single point, 35-34, at halftime.

The back-and-forth continued in the second half. Unfortunately, Lander scored two decisive points in the final moments of regulation and the Tigers prevailed by a single possession, 70-68, in a heartbreaking fall for the Wranglers.

Pinedale’s victory against Lyman sealed the Wrangler’s position at the top of the 3A West Quadrant and the neck-and-neck game against Lander proved Pinedale’s ability to run with any opponent as the postseason approaches.

“The Wranglers are first in their conference at 4-1 and sitting at an overall record of 9-7,” Coach Gosar said. “The Wranglers will take on the Big Piney Punchers this Thursday night in Big Piney and are then back on the road as they take on (cofererence opponent) Thermopolis on Saturday.”

Lyman

The Eagles won the first quarter by a single point. Senior Bridger Kaiser drained a 3-pointer, placing Pinedale ahead, 8-6, early in the opening quarter. On defense, fellow senior Jayce Ramage blocked a missed shot by the Tigers with Pinedale still up by one point, 11-10.

A close-range shot by the Eagles returned the initiative to Lyman, 12-11, as the second quarter commenced.

Stepping up the pressure, the Wranglers outscored Lyman, 18-12, in a physical second quarter. Senior Josh Gosar blocked a shot and junior Nicolas Sletten snatched a steal.

Taking aim, senior Owen McMillen netted a deep outside shot, pulling the Wranglers up, 25-17, midway into the second quarter.

The halftime scoreboard favored the Wranglers, 29-24.

A determined Pinedale offense tossed in 15 points while in the third quarter while a solid Wrangler defense held Lyman to 10.

Pulling out all the stops in the fourth quarter, the Wranglers topped Lyman in scoring, 17-8. A pair of outside shots by senior Brody Hamby set the pace for Pinedale in the final eight minutes of regulation.

McMillen led Pinedale in scoring against Lyman with 20 points. Kaiser contributed 19 points with Hamby netting a season high of 13 points.

Junior Alex Gosar joined the Wrangler starting lineup for the first time this season and added five points to the final tally.

Lander

The Tigers dominated the first half, netting 19 points and holding Pinedale to eight.

Undaunted, the Wranglers rallied in an explosive second half to come within a single point of overtaking Lander, 35-34, at halftime.

Kaiser led the charge for the Wrangler offense and scored on a fastbreak early in the second quarter. Kaiser rustled a steal and Alex Gosar sank a 3-pointer. Taking possession, Josh Gosar scored on a fastbreak and Sletten topped off the first half with an outside shot.

Both teams left it all on the court in a point-for-point battle over the third and fourth quarters.

Kaiser accomplished a season-high game in scoring with 30 points against Lander. Josh Gosar netted 15 points with McMillen scoring 13.