It was a mixed bag for the Kemmerer High School boys’ basketball team over the weekend, as the Rangers opened conference play with a home split against Wyoming Indian and St. Stephens.

Kemmerer (5-8, 1-1 in 2A Southwest Quadrant) opened the weekend Friday against the No. 3-ranked Chiefs (13-5, 3-0 in 2A SW Quadrant), falling 76-43. The Rangers rebounded Saturday against St. Stephens (4-6, 0-3 in 2A SW Quadrant) behind a monster game from senior Chase Bowen, mounting a fourth-quarter rally to oust the Eagles 69-61.

The Rangers will travel to Big Piney (5-9, 1-1 in 2A SW Quadrant) Thursday for a makeup game, then host Wind River Saturday.

Wyoming Indian 76, Rangers 43

The Rangers welcomed one of the top teams in 2A to town Friday, and Wyoming Indian didn’t disappoint, jumping out to a 36-20 halftime lead, en route to a 76-43 win.

Kemmerer struggled from the field, scoring at just a 23.5% clip, while the Chiefs finished with a 45% shooting percentage. The Rangers also went cold behind the arc, shooting 0-10 from 3-point range.

Chase Bowen led the home team with a double-double, scoring 25 points, and grabbing 11 rebounds; he also led the team in steals, with five. Gabe Wiswell finished with six points, to go along with six boards, while Skyler Rogers chipped in four points. Kane Jimenez, Bryson McGill and Kaden Witbeck added two points apiece, while Ethyn Perkins and Beau Jackman rounded out the scoring with a free throw each.

Rangers 69, St. Stephens 61

Determined to get back in the win column,

the Rangers fought off a determined St. Stephens squad behind a career night from Chase Bowen, battling back from a 5-point deficit in the final frame to win 69-61.

Both teams came out of the gate firing, and after a quarter, the score was knotted at 17-17. St. Stephens was able to create some separation in the second, and took a 35-30 lead into the break.

Then two teams played each other even in the third quarter 16-16, and the Eagles still held a 5-point lead headed into the fourth, 51-46. The Rangers’ defense tightened the screws, while the offense came alive, going on a 23-10 run to finish out the game and earn the win, 69-61.

Bowen paced the Rangers with his second double-double of the weekend, netting 33 points, and pulling down 18 rebounds; he also dished off a team-high seven assists. Ethyn Perkins also finished in double figures with 13 points, followed by six points apiece from Kaden Witbeck and Bryson McGill. Gabe Wiswell added five points, while Skyler Rogers and Cage Bowen rounded out the scoring, with four points and two points, respectively. Rogers was second on the team in rebounds, with eight.