The Kemmerer Rangers have played three games a week two weeks in a row. At first, this week looked similar, but a scheduling conflict with the Bridgerland wrestling tournament put off Big Piney’s game in Kemmerer. Consequently, last week only had two games, both on the road against pretty good 3A opponents.

The first was a rematch with Pinedale. The Wranglers had beaten the Rangers in Kemmerer by 12, and Kemmerer was looking for revenge. Kemmerer started out hot, taking a 10-4 lead in the first quarter and still leading by four, 12-8, at the quarter’s end.

They led by as much as seven in the second quarter, but Pinedale fought back, taking the lead on the last basket of the half, a three-pointer by Keaton Cross. The half-time score was 25-22 Wranglers.

It was role reversal in the second half, with Pinedale leading by as much as six points and the Rangers fighting to catch up. A basket by Cole Shimmin brought them within one late in the third quarter at 37-36, but pure shooter Dylan Reese made three of his 16 second-half points to put the Wranglers up by four with eight minutes to go.

Reese scored seven of Pinedale’s 12 fourth-quarter points. The Rangers pulled within four twice late and had the opportunities to take the lead and perhaps take the game. Missed free-throws and easy baskets kept that from happening as the Rangers lost 52-46.

“We had good effort,” said coach Dustin Lym. “We were just drained from all the games in the last few weeks.”

Saturday saw the Rangers make the trip to Lyman, where the Eagles are always tough. According to Lym, the Rangers were “in control most of the time and up by 22” when he subbed in the young players. Lyman at home was too much for them and quickly cut the lead to eight.

Lym re-inserted the starters, who took control of the game again. The final score was 74-63. “We rebounded well and shot a good percentage from both two and three,” Lym said. “It’s so funny how we can shoot good from the field and still not make our free throws. Every loss we have can be attributed to easy baskets missed, rebounding and free throws missed.”

The Rangers have two weeks off before resuming conference play. Lym plans to only work three days this week to recover from some nagging injuries. Then it’s a busy week getting ready for Wyoming Indian and Wind River on the road.

“Wind River will probably move into the top five this week,” Lym said. “That will give us three of the top five in our little corner of the state. That leaves only Greybull and Southeast from the rest of the state.”