After one half of basketball, it looked like Star Valley might run away with a win against Sheridan. After the second half, they were just glad to collect the W.

The Braves jumped out to a 36-25 halftime lead over Sheridan and appeared to be running their style of ballgame. Sheridan responded with a long, determined effort to make Star Valley and their fans sweat out a 68-65 victory.

“I’m very proud of how the guys responded tonight when the pressure was on and how they finished the game,” stated Head Coach Todd Dixon. “We’re still not where we want to be but this is a nice win to have going into practice this week before we see Kemmerer on Thursday. ”

Apparently buoyed by a makeshift student section made up of other Sheridan players, the Broncs refused to go quietly and made for a very tense fourth quarter as they whittled down what was at one time a twelve-point lead. The Broncs closed to within two points on three occasions in the fourth quarter, but each time the Braves responded with a key basket or free throws.

Sheridan’s Dustin Mccalla tallied 23 points and ten rebounds to keep the Broncs going while Austin Woodward chipped in 12.

Tyler Schwab led the Braves with 18 points, including four consecutive free throws in the game’s final minute to ice the victory. Kurtis Suloff finished in double figures for the second consecutive night, compiling 16 points and hitting seven of eight free throws in the fourth quarter. Mitch Schwab finished with 16 points, while Remick Rappleye scored eleven points and pulled down seven rebounds.

The Braves split their games in the Riverton Invitational, losing 70-65 to the Wolverines Friday evening.

The Lady Braves once again put together one good half while trying to hang with the Sheridan Lady Broncs. The 4A defending state champions knocked off Star Valley, 56-29. Danette Warren scored 12 points while Carolee Saunders chipped in eleven.

The girls’ junior varsity lost a pair of games in the tournament, while the JV boys made short work of their competition, winning their games by an average of over 20 points.

The Braves now face a familiar non-conference opponent to close out their out of conference schedule as they host the Kemmerer Rangers on Thursday evening at Star Valley High School.