Badgers Protect Home Court With Team Effort

By Justin Snow

EPHRAIM- Snow College mens basketball (15-4, 2-2) picked up their first two conference wins Friday and Saturday defeating Utah State University-College of Eastern Utah, and Colorado Northwestern Community College.

Snow beat USU-CEU 94-81 Friday, and followed that with a 79-58 blowout of CNCC.

USU-CEU’s trek to Ephraim, handed them their first Scenic West Athletic Conference loss of the year. 

In a game of runs, it was sophomore guard Travis Wilkins 18 first half points that got the Badgers running.

“We had two or three guys in foul trouble early on and it tests your depth, tests the versatility of your team and guys ability to play multiple positions. We were able to do that cause I think our teams deep and we have guys that are really versatile so we could kind of weather that storm. In the last two or three minutes I think they wore down a little bit and we were relatively fresh to go on a little run,” Snow head coach Michael Ostlund said.

With 13 minutes left in the first half Snow went on a 9-3 run to make the lead 17-9. USU-CEU responded with a 17-8 run of their own to take a one point lead 26-25.

That is where Wilkins took over. Back to back three pointers by Wilkins gave the badgers a five point cushion for the time being. 

The Badgers went on a 14-5 run to finish out the half. Wilkins again hit back to back three pointers giving Snow a 13 point lead at the break.

USU-CEU started the second half strong cutting the lead to four, but that is all the closer they would get as the Badgers withstood the run and finished the game strong. 

The win, gives the Badgers their first SWAC win of the year.

“It was a game where match ups were difficult on both ends. Sometimes we had  post guys guarding their guards and sometimes there guards guarding our posts and tonight we won the matchup battle,” Ostlund said.

Wilkins finished with 27 points. Brandon Vega had 18 points and six assists. Connor Van Brocklin also chipped in 20 points off the bench.

Saturday the Badgers picked up right where they left off taking down the Spartans of CNCC. 

Snow was lead by freshman Frenchman, Teigbe Bamba who had a double-double 12 points and 12 rebounds.

“Yesterday I wasn’t really feeling good, but today was a new day and new game so I played good.” Bamba said.

Just as they did Friday, Snow continued to share the basketball with a total of 14 assists. 

“Coach changed the offensive plays. Now we have motion, basically pass the ball, a lot of screens and we have to share the ball now. Make the extra pass and everybody scores,” Bamba said.

Snow College is back at home Saturday Jan. 21 hosting Salt Lake Community College (13-4, 2-2). Tipoff is at the Horne Activity Center at 5:00 p.m.

Badgers Protect Home Court With Team Effort

By Justin Snow

EPHRAIM- Snow College mens basketball (15-4, 2-2) picked up their first two conference wins Friday and Saturday defeating Utah State University-College of Eastern Utah, and Colorado Northwestern Community College.

Snow beat USU-CEU 94-81 Friday, and followed that with a 79-58 blowout of CNCC.

USU-CEU’s trek to Ephraim, handed them their first Scenic West Athletic Conference loss of the year. 

In a game of runs, it was sophomore guard Travis Wilkins 18 first half points that got the Badgers running.

“We had two or three guys in foul trouble early on and it tests your depth, tests the versatility of your team and guys ability to play multiple positions. We were able to do that cause I think our teams deep and we have guys that are really versatile so we could kind of weather that storm. In the last two or three minutes I think they wore down a little bit and we were relatively fresh to go on a little run,” Snow head coach Michael Ostlund said.

With 13 minutes left in the first half Snow went on a 9-3 run to make the lead 17-9. USU-CEU responded with a 17-8 run of their own to take a one point lead 26-25.

That is where Wilkins took over. Back to back three pointers by Wilkins gave the badgers a five point cushion for the time being. 

The Badgers went on a 14-5 run to finish out the half. Wilkins again hit back to back three pointers giving Snow a 13 point lead at the break.

USU-CEU started the second half strong cutting the lead to four, but that is all the closer they would get as the Badgers withstood the run and finished the game strong. 

The win, gives the Badgers their first SWAC win of the year.

“It was a game where match ups were difficult on both ends. Sometimes we had  post guys guarding their guards and sometimes there guards guarding our posts and tonight we won the matchup battle,” Ostlund said.

Wilkins finished with 27 points. Brandon Vega had 18 points and six assists. Connor Van Brocklin also chipped in 20 points off the bench.

Saturday the Badgers picked up right where they left off taking down the Spartans of CNCC. 

Snow was lead by freshman Frenchman, Teigbe Bamba who had a double-double 12 points and 12 rebounds.

“Yesterday I wasn’t really feeling good, but today was a new day and new game so I played good.” Bamba said.

Just as they did Friday, Snow continued to share the basketball with a total of 14 assists. 

“Coach changed the offensive plays. Now we have motion, basically pass the ball, a lot of screens and we have to share the ball now. Make the extra pass and everybody scores,” Bamba said.

Snow College is back at home Saturday Jan. 21 hosting Salt Lake Community College (13-4, 2-2). Tipoff is at the Horne Activity Center at 5:00 p.m.

Sports Briefs

By Justin Snow

Manti Templar mens basketball

Despite a low scoring second quarter the Manti Templers found their way to a 60-48 win over North Sevier to pick up their first region win of the season. Manti was lead by Brady Aste and Jamen Miller each chipping in 16 points. Miller nailed three three pointers in the contest. Devin Cluff added six points to the effort. The Templars were stellar from the charity stripe making 12-14 free throws. 

Kaesen Rasmussen of North Sevier had a game high twenty points sinking five three pointers. 

The win moves the Templars to 7-5 on the year and 1-1 in region 16 play.

Manti is at home Wednesday against Waterford, then goes on the roady Friday to Gunnison. Tip off is set for 7:00 pm both nights.

Lady Templar Basketball

The Lady Templars got all they could handle and more from North Sevier. North Sevier defeated Manti 58-40 on friday. Mandee Christensen scored a game high 19 points for the Lady Templars. Melanie Mitzvotai had seven points and Elizabeth Palmer and Jessica Lund each had six points. 

North Sevier had three players score in double figures. Devyn Sorensen had a team high 15 points. Kelsey barney and Shaylie Mason each added 12 points apiece. Morgan Okerlund also added nine points in the win.

With the loss the Lady Templars drop to 6-5, 1-1 in region 16. North Sevier moves to 8-5, 2-0 in region. 

Lady Badgers Basketball

Returning home after almost a month on the road for the Lady Badgers, wasn’t so sweet. After a tough loss to Utah State University-College of Eastern Utah 79-65, Snow answered back with a 71-62 victory over Colorado Northwestern Community College.

“I called them out on some things. Sometimes you believe that because your at home things are going to be easier at home and thats not the case,” Lady Badger head coach Natalie Visger said.

Coach Visger got the response she was looking for Saturday. In a game that was tight most the night the Lady Badgers in the second half held CNCC to 24 points.

“We moved the ball a little bit better, we didn’t turn the ball over as much. I think we have five less turnovers. Our defensive effort was really nice. We converted some nice things off their turnovers into nice transition baskets.”

The bench for Snow made a huge contribution out scoring CNCC’s bench 20-7.

With the win the Lady Badgers move to (8-8, 2-2). They will next take on Salt Lake Community College on Saturday, tip off is at 5:00p.m. at the Horne Activity Center in Ephraim. 

Volleyball Coach Kevin John

Volleyball Coach Kevin John