The Star Valley Braves boys basketball team earned a spot at the state tournament after finishing second at the 4A West Regional Tournament, held March 4–7 at Evanston High School. The strong performance secured the team a chance to compete for a state championship after a season of preparation and hard work.

Throughout the 4A west regional tournament in Evanston, the Braves faced several strong opponents from across the 4A West region. Each game was important, as teams battled for one of the limited spots available at the state tournament. Star Valley’s players stayed focused and worked together to earn their place among the top teams.

Junior guard Roman Erickson played a key role in helping the team qualify. “It felt great to hit the shot and help us qualify for state,” Erickson said. “The team has really locked in on film and overall preparation for regionals and state, and we feel confident that we can go on a run for the championship.”

Preparation leading up to the tournament was a major factor in the team’s success. The players spent time studying film and reviewing strategies to prepare for their opponents. According to Crew Lancaster, the competition at regionals was intense because of the strength of the teams in the western conference.

“It was pretty intense,” Lancaster said. “There were a lot of good teams there, so it was hard to earn a spot for state. Everyone was focused, and they took each game one at a time. The West has gotten better, so we knew we had to play harder than we had been. The week leading up to regionals involved a lot of film study and review for Rock Springs.”

For many players, the entire season has been building toward the state tournament. Senior Lincoln Liddiard said the team has had that goal in mind from the very beginning.

“The whole season has been in preparation for state,” Lidiard said. “Our end goal has always been state, so all the preseason tournaments, practices, and games have been leading up to this. We’re happy to qualify for state and excited for the opportunity to compete this weekend. State has been the number one goal, but it definitely would have felt better if we were able to win regionals.”

Even though the Braves finished second at regionals, the team remains confident as they head into the state tournament. With strong preparation, teamwork, and determination, Star Valley hopes to continue its run and compete for the state championship.