By Mark DeLap

mdelap@guernseygazette.com

GUERNSEY – After having their Friday game canceled due to inclement weather and closed roads, all roads were open to another lopsided victory for the Guernsey Vikings as they handed Rock River a 62-37 beating.

Rock River which had only lost to Guernsey nine days ago by ten points had thoughts of payback in Guernsey Feb. 20. The first quarter was about the same as it’s been for the Viking high-flying offense, but Rock River was not as phased by the Guernsey press and scored 12 points which left them only a trey behind the home team at the end of the quarter.

Guernsey turned up the heat and gathered the majority of their 10 steals in the second quarter and outscored the Longhorns by 14 points, which sent the teams to the locker room with a 34-17 score. The question on everyone’s minds was that dreaded third quarter where this season, it hasn’t been the Viking forte’. 

Fears were soon put to rest as the Vikings came out and outscored the Horns by 8 which gave them a commanding lead going into the fourth quarter 52-27. They coasted home in the fourth quarter and Guernsey had its 11th win for the season.

Brock Hohnholt led all scorers with 26 points and his penetrations to the rim could not be stopped. He also led the team with one block. Rawland “Rolo” Isabell scored eight points, owning the weakside block and also led the team with eight rebounds. Caleb Christensen also contributed with eight points and had six rebounds. Justin Malcomb added seven points and led the team in assists with three and also led the team in steals with five. Cole Skilbred also played big again as he had two points and six rebounds. Aidan Noggle had five points, Cooper Harriman had four points and Brian McCoid who only played a half after coming back after an injury scored two points.

The Vikings will begin postseason play this coming Thursday in Torrington at EWC at 1:30 p.m. against Hanna Elk Mountain. If the boys can pull off the victory, they will play again at 5 p.m. against the winner of Southeast and Lingle. Also, if they win that first game, they are guaranteed a birth in the Wyoming State Boys Basketball Tournament in Casper the following weekend.

“Hopefully we can take care of business,” said second year varsity coach Taylor Dick. “We have work to do still. All the practicing is over. These are the games that matter, these are the games we have to get mentally prepared for. It’s a whole new season and new experience. It’s wins or go home. We play as a team we win; we play hero ball because it’s all on the line and we could dig ourselves into trouble. I know the kids want to see what the next level is like. I’ll do my best to help them get there. We now have a season where we have won a lot. Now we need to learn how to win in the postseason. I have faith that we can do that.”