8 I The Lovell Chronicle I October 13, 2011
LHS girls undefeated in conference Grizz
BY PAr[| CA"PENTE" to Leae (Winterholler)and ter on the team, had 11 kills, Bulldogs
Step one, win all of the
conference games. Step two,
win the regional tournament.
Step three, win the state
championship. These are the
steps coach Stormy Jameson
hopes to see her team take in
the coming weeks as the vol-
leyball season rolls toward
the final games of the season.
The team took the first
step this week when it won
its last conference game of
the season against Riverside
on Saturday (25-12,25-18,25-
17), making the Lady Bull-
dogs the only team in the con-
ference to play an undefeated
season. The team will take
its next step at the regional
tournament to be played in
Riverton, Oct 21-22. The fi-
nal step will be taken at the
state tournament in Casper,
Oct. 27-29.
"It's a big thing to finish
undefeated and it puts us in
a good position for where we
want to be right now," said
Jameson. "We are the num-
ber one seed going into re-
gionals and it sets a certain
expectation for us, too. Win-
ning conference is great, but
it's not our ultimate goal for
this year. We have our aim
set higher than that."
Jameson is pleased with
the overall performance of
"her girls" so far this season.
Senior Jodi Walker has a
record so far of 59 kills and
85 digs this conference sea-
son. She also had one assist,
eight blocks and eight aces.
She served 97 percent.
"Jodi is a solid, all-
around player," said Jame-
son. "She's not the one who
you need to yell at to get fo-
cused. She is going to always
do her best."
Junior Chelsey Ellis had
52 kills, 133 digs, four blocks
and 10 aces this conference
season. She served 94 per-
cent.
"Chelsey is third on the
team with kills but where she
really shines is with her digs,
where she is second on digs
she just has that go-getter
mentality. She thrives un-
der pressure and that's good.
When the team is struggling
she seems to always be the
one that still plays aggres-
sive."
Senior Erin Robertson
"owns the net," according
to Jameson. Robertson has
proven herself this season
with 77 kills, 44 digs, one as-
sist, 37 blocks and 12 aces.
"She (Robertson) is going
to get kills, and she is going
to get blocks," said Jameson.
"She has more blocks than
anyone else on our team, and
she is both an offensive and
defensive threat at the net."
Junior setter Megan Mc-
Clure "goes unnoticed a lot,
but she is one of the most im-
portant players on the team,"
said Jameson. McClure made
a whopping 224 assists in
conference, plus 66 digs, 10
kills and seven aces.
Jameson referred to
senior Leanne Winterhol-
ler, as the "backbone of the
team's defense." Winterhol-
ler stands out with 200 digs,
one assist, five aces and a 92
percent serving record.
Emilee Reasch, the
team's only freshman play-
er, has "amazing stats for a
freshman with 51 kills, 15
digs and 23 blocks," noted
Jameson. "To be a freshman
playing on varsity can be
a little bit intimidating for
some, but Emilee has really
stepped into that role and
she's contributed a lot as a
freshman."
Senior Miranda Griffis
"brings an intangible to the
court with her intensity."
Griffis had 41 digs, 11 kills,
one assist, two blocks and
four aces.
'You almost always want
to have Miranda on the court
because she has that inten-
sity and enthusiasm, which
is something you can't see in
the stats."
Junior Maddie Baxen-
dale the only left-handed hit-
six digs, three blocks and two
aces this season.
"Maddie has really
stepped up and done every-
thing I've asked her to do this
season," said Jameson. "She
is very consistent."
Senior Schuylar Davis
had six kills, five digs, one as-
sist, five blocks and two aces.
"Schuylar is someone
you're glad to have on your
team," said Jameson. "She's
a good bench player to have
when anyone goes into a
slump. Whether it's an out-
side hitter, a middle block-
er or an right side hitter,
Schuylar is the one that can
go in and play any of those
front row positions and do a
good job."
Senior Maci May showed
her value in defense with 18
digs.
"Maci plays good de-
fense from the back row,"
said Jameson. "I just love
Maci because she plays re-
ally hard and is definitely a
valued part of our defense."
Junior Shyann Wil-
ske is also the setter for the
JV team but is called upon
whenever needed to play
varsity. Wilske showed her
worth with 36 digs and one
ace.
"Shyann does a great
job," said Jameson. "She's a
setter on JV and does a great
job there but then comes up
to varsity and is not scared
to dive on the floor and is not
afraid to sacrifice her body
to not let the ball hit the
ground."
"I feel like this team
is very solid all the way
around," said Jameson.
"Even our bench players
would be good enough to be
starters on some of the other
teams we've been playing this
year. We have the depth this
year that if someone is strug-
gling we do have a replace-
ment. I think that's where we
will have an edge over some
of the other teams."
The team will play Sho-
KARLA POMEROY
LHS volleyball player Jodi Walker attempts to get
one past a Riverside blocker at the game played in
Riverside on Oct. 7.
shoni this week in a non-con-
ference game on Thursday on
Shoshoni's home courts at 4,
5 and 6 p.m.
"Shoshoni has a lot .of
intensity and they're loud.
when they're at their home
gym they have a bunch of
fans that are loud and sup-
port them, so it will be good
for us because we haven't
had many high intensity
games like that this season.
I'm excited that we have this
game with Shoshoni."
Next week Jameson
plans to shake things up at
practice by bringing in some
strong girls from past teams
to scrimmage with the cur-
rent team. The coaches plan
to also join in the fun hoping
to give the girls a challenge
that will take their intensity
up yet another notch.
"We've got the skills
down but we've still got to
work on that killer instinct,"
said Jameson. "Up until now
we've been winning games
just based on our ability.
Now, it's going to come down
to heart and intensity be-
cause that is what it will
take to win at regionals and
at state."
Bulldogs overcome Bobcat aerials,, beat Thermop, 32-13
BY DAVID PECK
They're not the two-time
defending state champions
for nothing.
The top-ranked Lovell
Bulldogs got all they wanted
from the Thermopolis Bob-
cats Friday night before tak-
ing charge for a 32-13 victory
at Robertson Stadium.
Thermopolis may have
lost some talent to gradua-
tion, but they retained their
crisp, short passing attack led
by quick quarterback Kaden
Haun and moved the ball well
on the Bulldogs until turn-
overs did the visitors in.
%Ve knew they would
give us some problems," coach
Doug Hazen said. "They're
the two-time state champi-
ons for a reason. They're well-
coached, and they're good at
breaking down film and tak-
ing advantage of the things
you do."
Haun was spectacular in
the first half for the Bobcats,
spreading the ball around
and completing his first 13
passes before throwing an in-
completion.
"We didn't keep very
good contain on the quarter-
back," Hazen said. "He was
able to sprint out, which put
our linebackers in a bind. If
they came up he would throw
it, and if they stayed back he
would run it..
'Tge made some adjust-
ments at halftime and even
before that. We made our de-
fensive ends more aware and
blitzed linebackers off the
edge. We mixed up our cov-
erages and used more man to
man than we typically do."
Lovell took the opening
kickoff and drove methodical-
ly 66 yards for a touchdown
following a nice kickoff return
by Mark Grant. Strong run-
ning by Grant and Dino Col-
lins and passes from Dylan
Hultgren to Cody Savage,
Grant and Hunter Hinckley
set up a five-yard touchdown
run up the middle by Collins.
Savage booted the PAT and
Lovell led 7-0.
Thermop came right back
to answer quickly, moving
the ball 76 yards in 10 plays
as Haun passed and ran the
Bobcats down the field. Ther-
mop capped the drive when
Haun dashed left on fourth
and three at the Lovell four
and hit Tanner Abbott for a
touchdown pass. Haun was
5-5 on the drive as Thermop
knotted the score at 7-7.
The ensuing Lovell drive
ended when Lane Schmidt
intercepted Hultgren deep
down the right sideline, and
the Bobcats took advantage
of the short-field opportunity
to drive 30 yards for their sec-
ond touchdown, capped by an
eight-yard touchdown pass to
Colter Brown. The Bulldogs
blocked the PAT, but the visi-
tors from Hot Springs County
led 13-7 early in the second
period.
It only took one play for
the Bulldogs to tie the game.
Grant fielded the Bobcat kick-
off at the Lovell 10, picked
up a nice wedge, broke to the
outside and scored on a 90-
yard kickoff return. The PAT
was just wide, but Lovell had
forged a 13-13 tie.
The Bulldog defense rose
up to force a punt on the next
Thermop series, and Collin
McArthur broke through to
block the punt. Collins fell on
the ball at the Bobcat 8, and
the Bulldogs took advantage
of the miscue to score in two
plays, with Grant powering in
from four yards out. The PAT
put Lovell up 20-13.
Turnovers marked the
rest of the second quarter. A
54-yard Thermopolis drive
ended with a fumble at the
Lovell 14, recovered by Grant.
The Bulldogs gained one first
down on a nice run by Dimas
Patina, but the drive stalled
and the Bulldogs punted the
ball away. Three plays lat-
er, Haun completed a pass
to Jake Moore, but Hurley
lost the ball on an attempted
hook-and-ladder play. Collins
scooped up the fumbled ball
and rumbled 21 yards to the
Bobcat 18.
Runs of seven and two
by Patina set up a nine-
yard power touchdown run
by Grant, and though the
PAT was wide, Lovell led 26-
13 with 1:08 left in the half.
Haun completed a long pass
to Abbott in the final minute,
then took a couple of shots at
the end zone, but on his sec-
ond attempt, McArthur inter-
cepted the ball at the goal line
to end the threat.
DAVID PECK
Lovell senior Hunter Hinckley snags a pass from Dylan Hultgren along the
sideline during Lovelrs 32-13 win over the Thermopolis Bobcats at Robertson
Stadium Friday night. The Bulldogs host Kemmerer Friday at 6 p.m.
ADJUSTMENTS PAY OFF
The Lovell defensive ad-
justments began to take their
toll in the second half. After
completing 13 of 15 passes
for 166 yards in the first half,
Haun was three of four for 33
yards in the second half.
Hazen said his team was
able to "play our defense" af-
ter the adjustments, avoid-
ing big plays and making the
Bobcats drive the football.
'T/e gave up big chunk
plays early, then made them
drive it more," he said. "My
philosophy is that if we make
'em drive it, we give ourselves
a chance to make something
happen."
Indeed, the Bobcats took
the second-half kickoff and
fumbled on the second play,
with AJ Montanez recover-
ing at the Thermop 29. LoveU
drove to the 7, but the Bob-
cats sacked Hultgren with a
blitz and Savage booted a 30-
yard field goal that boosted
the Lovell lead to 29-13.
Thermop threatened once
more with a 62-yard drive fol-
lowing a Lovell fumble, but
the Bulldogs held at their own
27. They added another 30-
yard field goal by Savage mid-
way through the fourth quar-
ter to up the lead to 32-13.
Despite a quieter sec-
ond half, Haun still had a
spectacular passing game for
Thermop, completing 16 of 19
passes for 199 yards. He also
rushed for 65 yards on 13 car-
ries to lead the Bobcats.
Hultgren was nearly as
efficient, completing 12 of 16
passes for 131 yards. Sav-
age caught five passes for 41
yards, Hinckley two for 28
yards, Grant two for 10, Col-
lins one for 27, McArthur one
for 22 and McKayan May one
for three.
Lovell rushed for 190
yards, and Collins led the way
with 92 yards on 14 carries.
Patina added 54 yards on 11
carries, Grant 46 yards on 10
attempts.
Hazen said he was proud
of the Bulldogs' special teams,
noting the long Grant kick-
off return, a blocked punt, a
blocked PAT and two field
goals.
"I want to give credit to
all of the kids who play on
special teams," he said. "Our
special teams did an excellent
job."
Defensively, the Bulldogs
were led by Grant, who fin-
ished with 24 points on four
assisted tackles, six solo tack-
les, one tackle for a loss and
one fumble recovery. McAr-
thur had 23 points on two
blocked kicks, an interception
and two solo tackles. Dillon
Pickett had 21 points, Mon-
tanez 17 and Collins 15.
KEMMERER TO TOWN
The Bulldogs will host the
Kemmerer Rangers Friday at
6 p.m. Kemmerer is coming
on. The Rangers started the
season 2-2 including a 41-0
loss to Lyman and a 42-6 loss
to Thermopolis, but the Rang-
ers have defeated Big Pin-
ey 33-24 and Greybull 21-14
over the last two weekends to
improve to 4-2, 3-2 in confer-
ence play.
The Rangers are a pow-
er running team with their
double wing formation. Ha-
zen said they put 11 players
in the box and run student
body right, student body lefL
with a few dives and counters
throw in. The Rangers will be
a tough opponent, but if the
Bulldogs can prevail, they can
sew up home-field advantage
throughout the playoffs, Ha-
zen said, giving them plen-
ty of motivation for Friday's
game.
win gridiron
battles
BY DAVID PECK
Both the Lovell and
Rocky Mountain junior
varsity/freshman football
squads have won games
within the past 10 days as
the season nears its end.
Last Monday, Oct. 3,
the Rocky Mountain Griz-
zlies hosted Burlington in a
freshman game. Rocky won
big, 42-6.
Coach Brandon May
said Ethan Landers scored
two touchdowns as a run-
ning back and one on a punt
return. Cannon Simmons
also had a rushing touch-
down, and Caleb Horrocks
scored on a 20-25-yard pass
from quarterback Bill De-
spain. Despain also hit Xavi:
er Mangus on about a 30-
yard touchdown pass, May
said.
The Grizzlies will host
the Lovell Bulldogs Monday
at 5 p.m., a game originally
scheduled for Sept. 10 but
postponed. Schedules call it
a freshman game.
On Monday evening the
Lovell Bulldogs topped Riv-
erside 27-21 in a junior varsi-
ty game at Robertson Stadi-
um. Coach Daniel Robertson
said the Bulldogs scored on a
long pass - around 60 yards
- from quarterback Seth
Kite to big end Drake Welch,
then added a "pick six"- in-
terception for a touchdown
- by PJ Blankenship, who
returned the pick about 40
yards for paydirt.
Leading 13-6 in the third
quarter, the Bulldogs scored
on a 40-yard pass down the
left sideline from Kite to full,
back Calin McArthur. Bran-
don Dickson booted the PAT.
They later tacked on a two-
yard run by Kade Englert,
who fumbled but fell on the
ball in the end zone. Dick-
son's PAT made it 27-6.
Riverside rallied in the
fourth quarter to cut the fi-
nal ...... to " points.
margm SLX
Robertson, ,s#id he was
pleased thi"he was able to
play a lot of players and also
win the game.
The Bulldogs will trav-
el to Cowley for a scheduled
freshman game Monday at
5 p.m., then host Greybull
Thursday, Oct. 20, in the fi-
nal JV game of the season.
RMMS Lady
Grizz finish
the season
strong
BY CHERYL JOLLEY
The Rocky Mountain
Middle School volleyball
squad wrapped up the 2011
season by participating in
the conference tournament
in Burlington Saturday.
Matching up against
top-seeded Ten Sleep, the A
team fell 19-21, 16-21, 17-
21 in the first game of the
day. The Grizzlies bested
Cloud Peak 16-21, 21-16,
22-20 in the second game,
a team coach Julie Winland
said the Lady Grizz had not
defeated during the regular
season.
"The girls played hard
and kept their heads up af-
ter their loss to Ten Sleep,"
Winland said.
The win matched the
Grizz up against Ten Sleep
again to battle for third and
fourth place. Rocky won
21-11, 21-19, finishing the
tournament in third place.
"It was awesome," Win-
land said. "The girls played
so well together. I am proud
of them. It was a rocky sea-
son, but the girls played
like I kfiew they could and
I couldn't ask for anything
more."
The Lady Grizzly B
team played round-robin ac-
tion in Burlington. Against
Burlington, the Lady Grizz
fell 14-21, 18-21, 23-25.
Playing Cloud Peak next,
they again fell 20-22, 18-21
in a hard-fought match.
