On Friday afternoon, the Green River Pirates’ basketball season came to an end as they faced the Piute Thunderbirds in the 1A state championship consolation round. The Pirates took a small lead into the fourth quarter but were outscored by Piute, losing 53-49.

The Pirates ended the season with a 17- 9 overall record, going 8-0 and claiming first place in region play. They also earned the number seven spot in the final rankings. It was a loss on Thursday against Wayne that set them up for a meeting with the Thunderbirds, who finished the season at 21-07, going 6-2 in region play. After defeating Green River, they would go on to beat Manila, claiming fifth place overall.

In the opening quarter, both teams played fairly evenly, with Piute and Green River matching basket for basket, and Piute taking a small 10-9 lead after one. The second quarter was an all-out battle with both teams going back and forth, and at the end, each team put 12 points on the board, but the Thunderbirds held a 22-21 lead heading into the locker room at the half.

In the third quarter, Green River took control, putting the clamps on defensively and outscoring the Thunderbirds 21-16 to carry a small 42-38 lead into the final eight minutes. In the final quarter, the wheels came off for the Pirates, who were more than doubled up by the Thunderbirds. Green River was outscored 15-7, and Piute came away with a 53-49 win to advance to the fifth and sixth place game.

Rolando Anguiano led the Pirates with 17, and Jason Hernandez had 15. Cristian Mendoza added seven, David Mendez chipped in six, and Jesus Escalante had four in the loss.

Mendoza, Anguiano, and Hernandez will all move on and graduate, leaving Escalante and Mendez to bring the rest of the team along with them next season.

Congratulations to the Green River Pirates on their basketball season.