BEAR RIVER HIGH - By Tate Atkin, Headliner Sports Editor, December 20, 2022
After wrapping up this year's Winter Classic tournament at home earlier this month, the Bear River High boys' basketball team have been on the road for the last five games with the first of those road games against Roy High School on December 7, for a match up with former Bear River head coach Scott Hunt's Royals.
Roy outscored Bear River 15-10 in the first quarter but the Bears kept it close until the Royals put up 20 points in the fourth quarter to pull away and secure the 58-44 victory. It was the first loss of the season for the Bears.
Junior Kyver Jensen led the Bears in scoring with 13 points. Junior Owen Olsen had 5 points and a team high 6 rebounds. Junior Brayden Ritter added 4 points and 5 rebounds.
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Next, the Bears traveled to Layton to face Northridge High School on December 9. Both teams got off to a hot start as the Bears outscored the Knights 25-18 in the first quarter. The Bears took a 38-32 lead into halftime.
The high scoring stopped for the Bears in the second half as they scored just eight points in both the third and fourth quarters. Regulation ended with a 54-54 tie. After a competitive overtime, Bear River fell to the Knights, 66-63, for their second straight loss.
Jensen once again led the Bears in scoring with 16 points to go along with 4 rebounds and 5 assists. Junior Gehrig Marble added 15 points to the scoreboard and dominated the glass with 16 rebounds. Olsen scored 13 with three 3-pointers and 3 assists.
Bear River spent then three days competing in the Preston Tournament where they went 2-1, losing in the championship game to host Preston High School (Idaho).
In the first game of the tournament against Jerome High (Idaho), the Bears took out their frustration from the last two losses as they blew past the Tigers, 71-46. Jensen scored 19 points and led the team with 6 steals. Junior Bridger Barfuss filled up the stat sheet with 22 points, 5 steals and 4 rebounds.
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In the second game, the Bears faced the Titans from Thunder Ridge (Idaho). Bear River defeated the Titans in a close competition sending them to the championship game with a 47-44 win. Jensen continued his dominance on the scoreboard leading the Bears with 15 to go along with his 3 rebounds and 3 assists. Marble put up 14 of his own to go with 9 rebounds, 3 assists and a block. Junior Jace Roberts was constantly hustling as he pulled down 6 rebounds, added 2 assists and led the team with 3 steals.
Bear River faced the tournament host Preston High on December 17, in the championship game. It was a tough fought battle, but the Bears lost to Preston, 71-58, ending a two-game winning streak. The Bears were once again led in scoring by Jensen, who finished the game with 18 points with 6 rebounds. Marble scored 15 and pulled down 4 rebounds. Senior Denver Reese contributed 12 points and Roberts led the Bears with 7 rebounds and also led the team with 2 steals.
Christmas came early for Bear River and their avid basketball fans on December 20, when the Bears hosted their heated cross county rivals, Box Elder High. It was a back-and-forth game that was tied 23-23 at the half but Bear River pulled away late and defeated the Bees, 51-46.
The Bear River High boys' basketball team will close out the 2022 year hosting Weber High School on December 28, at 4 p.m. Watch it live courtesy of Bear River Live on the link below.
Missed any of the excitement? Don't worry, Bear River Live has you covered! Watch their previously recorded coverage of the Bear River High boys' basketball team's season on the link below.
Photos by John Fronk
