The Real Deal: Girls hoops serve notice they are not to be taken lightly, win twice in Green River

The return to 3A has be been rough for the Glenrock High School girls basketball which has enrollment more comparable to 2A numbers. It has taken time to settle in now with the bigger schools and the Herders are now ready for patience to pay off.

Glenrock won three of its four home games to start the season two weeks ago, and traveled to Green River last weekend to prove opening week was no fluke. The squad won two of its three games Dec. 18-20 at the prestigious Flaming Gorge Classic to show the rest of 3A things are changing in Glenrock. 

“We took a hit at Flaming Gorge last year. This year, it was much different. The confidence these girls are showing now compared to last year is incredible. When they believe in themselves like they do now, they can compete with anyone in 3A,” head coach James Sarvey said. “Their confidence level that shows in how they play, the decisions they make and how they believe in each other. It’s been fun to see them having fun.”

Glenrock’s most decisive performance was on day two against Kemmerer. GHS was dominant in every phase of the game en route to a 64-27 shellacking.

The Herders looked like to a team that belongs at the State tournament from the opening tip off, starting with Sheridan Sarvey scoring for the first lead at 4-2. They followed that with a three pointer courtesy of sophomore Bailey Cornella and a lay up by junior Taitum Helmey on a beautiful assist from junior Kiley Smith to make it 9-4 and force a time out.

Kemmerer scored immediately after stopping play but it was all Glenrock after that.  GHS scored 10 of the last 11 points of the first quarter on buckets made by senior Caitilyn Williams, Sheridan Sarvey and another shot made by Helmey off an offensive rebound to go up 19-7.

“What I love most about the girls is they all have a ‘never quit’ attitude, all of them. They are so excited, they want to get back in the gym tomorrow. It’s the holiday break but they don’t see it that way. This group is eager to keep working, to keep improving,” the coach praised.

The Glenrock defense suffocated the Rangers in the second period. The unit, led by senior Emma Seestie, Sarvey, Smith and Williams, only allowed one field goal in the second . . . and that wasn’t until the final three minutes. Meanwhile, Cornella and Smith buried back-to-back three pointers, Seestie dropped in free throws and Cornella added a lay up to increase the advantage to 34-10. 

Kemmerer hit its only shot from the floor with 2:38 on the clock. After that, Smith swished another trey, Helmey nailed a three pointer of her own, while Sarvey and Helmey both scored on offensive rebound to increase the lead to 41-12; at intermission. 

Glenrock didn’t let a big lead slow their hustle as they unleashed their full court press some more in the third period to make sure the lead was insurmountable. Kemmerer hit its first three ball, but Williams and Sarvey countered with lay ups and Cornella delivered a dagger from beyond the arch to make it 50-17 midway through the to the frame. 

Kemmerer burned another time out to delay the inevitable. Glenrock only surrendered two points in the last three minutes of the third, while Helmey and Sarvey once again scored on offensive boards, Cornella laid in a fast break bucket thanks to a beauty of a pass from freshman Allison Sarvey as GHS went up 62-19.

The large lead allowed the mercy rule running clock to be enforced, which led to a quick fourth quarter.

The Herders’ only loss in Sweetwater County was on opening day to a quality 4A Evanston squad. They finished the tournament with an impressive 52-45 win over Mountain View, a yearly 3A State tourney contender. 

That victory confirmed coach Sarvey’s belief that his team is a State contender. Not only did the Herders win as team, Sheridan Sarvey scored 18 points, had four blocks and shutdown the Buffs’ All-State post player.

“Sheridan’s confidence has skyrocketed. This tournament was especially good for her because there were times she was triple teamed and she took advantage of that by passing to the girls who were left open,” the coach said. “She’s playing like one of the top 10 girls in the state. Because of that, she will get defended like this more and more, which gives us more girls to score. It’s been fun too see all the girls playing a part of the success, all of them.”

Glenrock is far from finished with big tests before conference. When the squad returns from honor break, they will next compete in the Rawlins Classic and face powerhouses Lander and Lyman, and rematch with Mountain View.