The members of the boy’s basketball senior class came into the season with a lot to prove.  After one game, it appears they may be on their way.

With an 18-point first quarter, Star Valley held the lead after one againt the Uintah Runnin’ Utes out of Vernal, Utah.  However, with a distinct height advantage, the Utes claimed the lead late in the second and never relinquished it.

Despite less than half the number of foul shots, the Braves hung within five points of their opponent before falling behind by as many as 13, eventually scrapping their way to a 71-64 loss.  While no coach or fan likes their team to lose, there was certainly a  feeling of optimism after the game.

Two Braves made it into double digits, with Zane Porter collecting ten points Mitch Schwab torching the Utes for a game-high 31 points.  Remick Rappleye scored seven and pulled down nine rebounds before fouling out and junior Tyler Schwab chipped in nine.

“We’ve still got a long way to go before we’re playing the kind of ball I want this team to be playing,” stated Head Coach Todd Dixon.  “But, I’m absolutely thrilled and proud of their effort tonight.  They played their tails off.”

The Braves played just this single game of the Ben Lomond Invitational and will return to a more familiar foe next week as they take on the Bear Lake Bears, a rivalry that has existed for more than eighty years.