Defying the odds

“I could not be prouder of the fight our kids showed this weekend in Rawlins. They had every card stacked against them the second they entered the city limits (in Rawlins). Every game we played brought in a packed house. They had to play in a hostile environment every single matchup.”

Coach Logan Barker

RAWLINS – The 2023-2024 winter season came to an early end for the Torrington High School Blazers as they battled through a particularly tough environment at the 3A East Regional Tournament in Rawlins from February 29 to March 2.

The action opened in the quarterfinals with Torrington taking on the No. 1 seed from the Northeast, Buffalo. The Bison prevailed at the end of regulation, 62-31.

Refusing to throw in the towel, the Blazers rallied in the consolation game on Friday morning against Newcastle to post a 50-48 victory after a neck-and-neck fight through four quarters.

Torrington advanced to square off against the host school on Saturday. Torrington controlled the scoreboard through the first three quarters by one or two possessions. Rawlins pulled ahead in the final one minute of regulation to win, 57-53.

While the season ended for Torrington on Saturday, the Blazers exhibited grit and determination against almost overwhelming odds at the regional tournament.

“I could not be prouder of the fight our kids showed this weekend in Rawlins,” coach Logan Barker said. “They had every card stacked against them the second they entered the city limits (in Rawlins). Every game we played brought in a packed house. They had to play in a hostile environment every single matchup. We have a bitter taste in our mouth from how everything went down.”

Barker singled out the Blazers’ senior, Adam Bartlett, for demonstrating exceptional leadership during the tournament.

“We are going to greatly miss Adam Bartlett, our lone senior, who helped bring a calm to the chaos in tight games,” Barker added. “His impression will last on these younger players.”

The Blazers put in a solid season, and while the scoreboard may not have always reflected it, each athlete filled out the stat sheet with highlights week after week and played some great games that the team can take pride in. Many players will return to the court next year with considerable varsity experience – juniors Mac Hibben, Weston Dyer, Ryan Moorehouse, Brayden Hime and Nounou Braddy and sophomore Landre Greiman. 

“These last few weeks have been a true view into what these kids are capable of,” Barker said. “We will pick up right where we left off with summer basketball team camps and bring momentum back to the hardwood next winter. The conference changes quite a bit next year, and we will be ready.”

Newcastle

The Blazers dominated the first half, topping Newcastle in scoring, 18-9. Both teams tossed in 12 points in the second quarter.

The halftime scoreboard favored the Blazers, 30-21.

Torrington maintained the pressure in the third quarter, outscoring Newcastle, 13-11. Newcastle attempted to close the gap in the fourth quarter, netting 16 points to seven by the Blazers, although Newcastle’s attempt came up far short in closing the significant lead Torrington established in the first half.

Moorehouse led Torrington in scoring against Newcastle with 16 points. Dyer netted 13, Hibben six, Hime and Bartlett five apiece, Greiman three and sophomore Kaleb Booth two.

Torrington won the game on the boards, with Moorehouse grabbing seven rebounds and Hibben six. Dyer snatched four steals and both Dyer and Hibben made two assists.

Rawlins

The Blazers pulled ahead of Rawlins in the first quarter, 15-11. The Outlaws managed to outmaneuver Torrington by a single point, 9-8, in the second quarter, although Torrington remained ahead at halftime, 23-20.

The neck-and-neck battle continued into the third quarter with Torrington netting 19 points to 20 by Rawlins.

The advantage remained in Torrington’s favor by a single possession, 42-40, at the end of the third quarter.

Torrington maintained the initiative through most of the final quarter before Rawlins overtook the Blazers in the final minute of regulation.