PINEDALE – The Pinedale High School Wranglers left it all on the court during two intense home games that came down to a few possessions in the final minutes of regulation.

The Wranglers opened the week hosting the 4A Jackson Broncs on Tuesday, Jan. 30. Pinedale led by a single possession, 29-27, following a point-for-point battle in the first and second quarters.

The Wranglers controlled the scoreboard for most of a physical third quarter before Jackson tied the game at 41 points and netted an outside shot to pull ahead, 44-41, as the fourth quarter commenced.

The Wranglers worked to close the gap during the final eight minutes of regulation, but Jackson took advantage of the charity stripe to remain ahead by several possessions in the fourth quarter to post the win, 63-56.

On Friday, Feb. 2, Pinedale squared off against the Lovell Bulldogs at the Wrangler Gym. Pinedale won the first quarter, 13-9, before Lovell edged up in the second quarter to take the initiative by a single possession, 31-28, at halftime.

The lead rebounded across the court throughout a tight third quarter. Pinedale ultimately came up short in its effort to overtake Lovell following a 6-point run by the Bulldogs early in the fourth quarter and Lovell prevailed, 62-53.

Quadrant play heats up for the Wranglers this weekend as Pinedale fights to defend an undefeated, 3-0 conference record with a home game against Lyman on Feb. 9, followed by an away game versus Lander on Saturday.

Jackson

The Wranglers established an early lead in the first quarter when senior Owen McMillen netted an outside shot.

The lead switched hands multiple times throughout the first eight minutes of regulation with McMillen and seniors Josh Gosar, Bridger Kaiser and Jayce Ramage scoring for the Wranglers.

The first quarter ended in a 15-15 stalemate.

The second quarter followed a similar pattern with the Wranglers outscoring Jackson by 2 points, 14-12.

“Josh Gosar, Owen McMillen, Bridger Kaiser and (junior) Alex Gosar all led the charge for the Wranglers in the second quarter,” Coach Gosar said.

The Wranglers found themselves ahead, 29-27, at halftime.

Pinedale maintained the initiative into the third quarter, with the Wranglers shooting 80 percent from the free-throw line, along with a bucket apiece by Josh Gosar and Kaiser.

The Broncs responded with five points at the end of the third quarter to pull ahead, 44-41.

The point-for-point continued into the final eight minutes of regulation.

“The fourth quarter was a battle,” Coach Gosar said. “(Junior) Nicolas Sletten stepped up huge for the Wranglers with eight points. Josh, Bridger, Alex and Owen all helped to put up points in the fourth.”

Kaiser led the Wranglers in scoring against Jackson with 15 points. McMillen tallied 13, Josh Gosar 12 and Sletten achieved a game high of 10 points.

Lovell

The Wranglers controlled the scoreboard in the first quarter against the Lovell Bulldogs to post a 13-9 advantage.

The Wranglers widened their lead in the second quarter, 26-18, following a layup by Kaiser. Lovell responded with an 8-point run to tie the game at 26 points with 1:27 remaining in the first half.

McMillen found an opening in the Bulldog’s perimeter to score, returning the initiative to Pinedale, 28-26.

Lovell replied with a 5-point run to pull up, 31-28, as the teams headed for the locker room.

The Bulldogs edged ahead, 35-31, early in the third quarter. Ramage and Josh Gosar closed the gap with a 4-point run, and the game deadlocked at 35 points.

Lovell netted three points before the lead returned to Pinedale, 39-38, with 2:40 remaining in the third quarter following a close-range shot by Ramage. Kaiser netted a jumper and the Wranglers remained ahead, 41-38.

Lovell then tossed in five points to retake the lead, 43-41, at the end of the third quarter.

A 6-point run by the Bulldogs early in the fourth quarter set Lovell on course to prevail.

Josh Gosar posted 19 points against the Bulldogs. McMillen tallied 11 points, Kaiser nine, Ramage seven with senior Brody Hamby, Alex Gosar and Sletten rounding out the remaining seven points.