Seniors prepare for final game, look back on season

Cody High School Equus

The band is playing, the cheerleaders are dancing and the crowd is going wild – it must be state basketball.

The Cody High School Bronc basketball team, after a stunning first-round win, finds itself in the consolation finals today against Lander in Casper.

Thursday night, Cody beat Rawlins 49-46 but fell on Friday night to rival Powell 52-42

The first night, the Broncs were paired off with the Outlaws.

Senior Zane Van Orden said he was confident going into the first game.

“I was thinking that we needed to play good defensively and that we [had] a really good chance to win the state title,” Van Orden said.

Senior Shad Moir said the support among the team was strong.

“I was thinking that all the starters were going to light it up while the rest of the team and I had moral support on the bench,” Moir said. “I was thinking we could make an awesome run when we needed to and everyone would contribute to our success.”

The teams remained close in score the entire night, but CHS came out on top in the end with a final score of 49-46.

The second night, the Broncs faced the Panthers. This game also was close and the two rivals were tied at halftime. However, Powell pulled ahead to win the game 52-42.

Though they lost the game, Moir said the Broncs accomplished a different mindset.

“They [the team] have come together with an ultimate goal and our perseverance and fight to achieve the goal,” Moir said. “So we have been playing the best.”

Van Orden said the members of the CHS basketball team had mixed feelings about the final few games of the season.

“Some [team members were] good because we weren’t supposed to be at the tournament and did better than anyone expected and others disappointed because we were so close to winning and making it to the state championship,” Van Orden said.

To qualify for the state tournament, the Broncs had to win three games in two days at the 3A West Regionals in Powell, ultimately finishing third.

Moir said the younger players will have a chance again next year.

“They will play well and tear it up,” Moir said. “Coach [Mr. Dean Olenik] has been waiting for them to become the leaders of the team and it’s their time.”

Van Orden says as long as the younger players adhere to certain guidelines, they will do well next year.

“I think they will be great as long as they stick together and work on their game all off-season,” Van Orden said.

With the State title now out of reach, the Broncs will play the consolation bracket today at 1:30 p.m. against the Lander Valley High School Tigers.