BY MICHAEL DAVID

The home team was unable to withstand a barrage of three-point shots by the visitors in the second half of the first round of the Great Basin District Tournament.  And, so, The Wood River High School Wolverines fell to Jerome in front of a raucous crowd at The Wolverine Den Tuesday night.

After a tightly contested opening period, the Wolverines capitalized on great ball movement and balanced scoring to seize control of the game in the second quarter. They forced Jerome’s ball handlers into several turnovers, which they converted into scores at the offensive end of the court.

Three-point shots by Alec Nordsieck (7 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists), Bodie Bennett (6 points) and Travis Swanson (5 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist) helped Wood River to a 24-17 lead at the half.

Nic Tidwell (13 points, 2 rebounds) kept the pressure on in the third period, scoring on the inside and from a long distance, as his three-point shot gave Wood River a seven point lead with under two minutes remaining in the quarter.

However, the Tigers clawed their way back behind the hot shooting of their junior guard, Logan Geist.  Geist hit four 3-point shots in the quarter, including three in the final 1:30 of the period, and Jerome’s 9-2 scoring run left the two fierce rivals knotted up 35-35.

Much to the chagrin of the large crowd in Hailey, the red hot Tigers would not cool down in the fourth.

Jerome opened the final period with yet another 3-point shot. And, after a Nordsieck steal and layup pulled the Wolverines within a single point, the visitors scored five unanswered points to take a 6-point lead with under two minutes left in the game.

The Wolverines began to foul the Tigers in an attempt to lengthen the game, but the Jerome cagers responded by hitting four straight free throws to ice the ball game.  Wood River was unable to get anything to go from beyond the three-point line late, and the Tigers took home the victory 50-40.

Cade Schott chipped in 7 points, 3 rebounds and an assist. Owen Gifford had 3 rebounds, and Brock Mary pulled down 2 rebounds and dished out an assist.

The Wolverines continue in the double-elimination District Tournament at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18, at home against Canyon Ridge.