GILLETTE – The Torrington High School Blazers basketball team netted its first winter season victory against 3A West rival Worland at the Gillette tournament on Thursday, December 12.

The Blazers attacked the first two quarters against Worland with aggressive intensity and dominated the boards on both offense and defense to lead by 19 points at halftime, 29-10.

Worland rallied in the third quarter and came within one possession of overtaking the Blazers. A back-and-forth battle commenced in the fourth quarter. 

Torrington dug deep and regained control of the scoreboard in the final minutes of regulation to defeat Worland, 57-53.

On Friday, Torrington fell to a team from Bismarck, North Dakota, 86-41. Saturday’s game pitted Torrington against Cody with the Blazers coming up short, 68-41.

Worland

A fast and furious Blazer offense scored 14 points in the first quarter against the Worland Warriors while a dogged Torrington defense held Worland to five points.

Senior Weston Dyer opened scoring for the Blazers with an inside shot and a deep 3-pointer. Sophomore Julian Stromski netted a close-range shot to close out a 7-1 run for Torrington.

Senior Ryan Moorehouse found an opening inside the perimeter to score. Dyer grabbed a steal, setting up junior Landre Greiman to toss in a jumper.

A steal by senior Mac Hibben resulted in a turnover. Senior Brayden Hime sank a free throw and drained a close-range shot.

Greiman closed out the first quarter with a steal.

The Blazers shifted into high gear in the second quarter, outscoring the Warriors, 15-5. Hibben and Stromski both set the pace offensively with five points apiece. Greiman sank an outside shot and Hime scored from inside the perimeter. 

Defensive pressure by Hibben, Stromski, Greiman and Moorehouse resulted in multiple turnovers.

The halftime score stood in Torrington’s favor, 29-10.

Worland attempted to turn the tables in the third quarter, topping Torrington in scoring, 23-6 and the Warriors cut Torrington’s lead to a single possession, 35-33, by the end of the third quarter.

A point-for-point battle ensued in the final eight minutes of regulation. Worland tied the game at 35 points.

A jumper by Stromski pulled Torrington up, 37-35, before the game reached another stalemate at 37.

Hibben took possession and scored from inside the perimeter and Torrington regained the lead, 39-37. Worland responded with a bucket and the game deadlocked at 39.

Stromski netted a 3-pointer, returning the advantage to the Blazers, 42-39.

The game tied again at 42. Worland briefly pulled ahead by one point, 45-44, following an outside shot.

Greiman responded with a trey and Torrington pulled up, 47-45.

A pair of 3-pointers by Stromski widened Torrington’s lead, 53-47.

Moorehouse netted a close-range shot. Defensive pressure by Greiman and Hibben shut out Worland’s final attempt to score.

Stromski topped off the game with a free throw.

Stromski led the Blazers in scoring against Worland with 19 points. Hibben contributed 13 points, Greiman nine, Hime seven, Dyer five and Moorehouse four.