East jumped out to a 16-2 lead and never looked back in a 52-28 victory.  Jazmyn Webster scored 16 effortless points as the 4A Eastern Conference champion was never challenged by Star Valley.

Dani Scherbel and Kassie Woodie each had six points in the effort.

The loss was the fourth of the day for the 4A West who were all relegated to the consolation bracket.  Star Valley plays Evanston at 10:30 a.m. on Friday.

The Braves had led by as many as 12 while the Camels had led by nine.  In the end, some costly missed free throws including two opportunities at the front end of one-and-one situations cost Star Valley in a 56-47 game that was closer than the final indicated.

The Crimson & Gold missed seven of their last nine free throws and was forced to foul late in the game while  4A East Champion Gillette capitalized on their opportunities.

Brandon Taylor finished with a game-high 22 points while Josh Hunsaker scored 11, pulled down eight rebounds and blocked five shots.  Sophomore Ridge Hillyard added ten points.  David Cranford played in precious few minutes due to foul trouble before fouling out with six minutes left in the game.

Matthew Mordecai led the way for Gillette with 21 points including nine of ten from the free throw stripe.  Mordecai also pulled down ten rebounds for a stellar performance.  Taryn Brown also scored nine while collecting 11 rebounds.

The Brave Cadettes scored 84.667 points while first place Kelly Walsh scored 89.333.  Evanston took second with 85.667 while Gillette took third with 85.000

The Star Valley High School Cheerleaders have placed second in the Cheer / Non-Stunt division, the second time in three years they have finished as the State Runner-Up.

Green River won the division with 90.667 points.  Star Valley was a solid second with 87.00 points.  Rock Springs finished third with 82.00 points.

Click here for the WHSAA home page

No one has contacted the Idaho Lottery to claim ownership of the $1,000,000 Powerball winning ticket sold for last Saturday night’s draw.  Idaho Lottery officials are encouraging everyone who has visited eastern Idaho recently and played Powerball to check their tickets carefully for winners.

“Too often people think they do not have a winning ticket if they did not match the Powerball number itself,” said Jeff Anderson, Idaho Lottery Director.  “This unique ticket did not match the Powerball number, but did match every other number and has the PowerPlay option, making it worth an automatic $1,000,000.”

The Idaho Lottery has also confirmed the winning ticket was sold in Irwin, near the Idaho – Wyoming border. No additional information about the ticket will be released until it is claimed in Boise.

“The winner should also sign the back of their ticket immediately to secure their ownership,” added Anderson. “Lottery tickets are bearer instruments, meaning when they are presented for payment we pay the individual who has signed the back of the ticket.”

The $1,000,000 winning Powerball ticket was the largest of its kind in the United States for Saturday night’s draw.  The winning numbers for Saturday night’s $144.6 million draw were 10, 29, 33, 41, 59 and the Powerball number was 15.

There were over 9,200 individual winners on Powerball in Idaho Saturday night, including the $1,000,000 winning ticket.  No one won Saturday night’s Powerball jackpot meaning the next jackpot for Wednesday night, March 10, 2010 is an estimated $170 million.

Players have 180 days from the date of the draw to claim their winnings from Lottery Offices in Boise.  Players can check their tickets at any Idaho Lottery retailer or by visiting the Lottery’s website here.

Audrey West, who had been nursing injuries all season, was obviously healthy in Laramie where she claimed the 55 Meter, 200 Meter and 400 Meter titles.  West also captured third in the Long Jump for a whopping 36 individual points.

West’s time of 7.35 seconds in the 55 Meter Dash is a new Indoor State Record.

The 4 x 800 Meter Relay also scored points for the Lady Braves as they placed third with a team made up of Hailey Ricks, Kirsten McKen, Charli Fisher and Abby McArthur.  The same quartet also placed fifth in the 4 x 400 Meter Relay.  Ricks also placed fourth in the 3200 Meter Run in her freshman campaign.

Senior Kirsten McKen broke up a Cheyenne Central sweep in the 800 Meter run, notching a time of 2:26.40 to place third.  The time is a school record for the indoor program.  The same time would also be a record in the outdoor season, a goal McKen has had for three years.

The fourth place finish is the highest for the Lady Braves so far in it’s short indoor history and matches the fourth place finish from the Braves last year.

Cheyenne Central ran away with the team title on the girls side with Gillette taking second.

The Braves did not fare nearly so well on the boy’s side, placing 14th and scoring just four team points.  Sheridan won the team title with 89.50.  Gillette took second with Laramie third.

Click here for full individual results.

With the 4A West Regional Tournament taking place at SVHS, both Star Valley teams took advantage by defeating the Wolverines and ending their season.

They Lady Braves were never challenged by the Lady Wolverines as Star Valley coasted to a 47-17 victory.  Emily Porter led the way with 13 points, while Dani Scherbel, Randi Robinson and Kelsea Gardner each scored eight points.  Gardner also pulled down eight rebounds.

It is the first time since the 2005-06 season that the Lady Braves have qualified for the state tournament and also the first time since moving to the 4A Classification.

The Lady Braves play the #2 seed Natrona Fillies this evening to try and advance to the regional championship game.

While the ladies were never challenged, the Braves had their hands full with Riverton who, despite trailing for most of the contest, refused to go away and took the lead on three different occasions in the second half.  Star Valley responded each time with great play from their guard line and held on for a 61-57 win.

The four guards of Elio Merino, James Bowers, Tyson Woodford and Ridge Hillyard combined for 34 points.

Merino led the way with a game-high 14 points along with five rebounds.  Brandon Taylor added 12 points and seven rebounds before fouling out in the game’s final minute.

It was a foul plagued contest with four Wolverine players fouling out in the fourth quarter and Star Valley’s Josh Hunsaker missing nearly two quarters to foul trouble.

The win also pits the Braves against Natrona and the top-seeded Mustangs.

In other action, the Evanston Lady Red Devils eliminated Green River’s girls, while Rock Springs eliminated their rivals from Green River on the boy’s side of the bracket.

Freudenthal, who is in the final year of his second term, cited that there is a season for everything and that he has accomplished what he was supposed to accomplish as governor.

Freudenthal  told Wyoming’s state legislators on their last full day of work in this 2010 session that family is one item that has been an important factor in the decision.

His wife and current Wyoming First Lady, Nancy Freudenthal,  is under consideration for a judicial appointment.

Several prominent Republican challengers are slated to vie for the Governor’s chair, including Ron Micheli and Rita Meyer.

More information on this decision will be made available shortly.

25-years ago:

Water content of the snow pack on the Salt River watershed is 98 percent of normal as of March 1.

The Town of Afton council men held their regular meeting at which the all terrain vehicle problem was again discussed. Effective Jan. 1, 1985, the state determined the vehicles (basically three and four wheelers) be considered a motor vehicle with the licensing requirement of cars and trucks, they be licensed, titled and be driven on roadways only by licensed operators.

Ad: At Village Furniture and Appliance, FREE kitchen aid food processor, manufacturer’s suggested retail price, $169.95, with the purchase of a kitchen aid dishwasher or 18″ trash compactor. Two great products for the price of one.

4A Cody Fillies edge Braves–Star Valley led 19 to 12 at the half, but the Lady Braves were outscored 25 to 6 in the second half. The Cody Fillies scored 13 of their second half 25 points from the foul line, as they hit on 13 out of 14 times from the charity stripe.

50-years ago:

The new municipal water system in Afton is experiencing some temporary difficulty that cannot be corrected until next summer. As a result, town officials are urging that all users cooperate and reduce waste for the next few weeks during the extreme low water.

A cold wave as sharp as any this winter hit Star Valley and the whole inter-mountain west early this week. An official minus 30 was reckoned at the Hepworth Ranch government sation in Grover Monday morning. Much colder temperatures were reported at other locations in the valley.

Ad: Best place in the world to misplace valuable documents is around your home. Best place to keep them is in a Safe Deposit box in our vault where they are safe from fire, theft or loss of any kind. Get One! at Star Valley State Bank.

75-years ago:

The contract was let the first of the week for building the new picture show house, by C. S. Wray. Harvey Allred of Afton was the successful bidder. The price is between $17,000 and $18,000. The excavation for the basement has already commenced. They expect to have the building completed about the first of July.

The old saying “what’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander” is said to be exemplified with interesting variation in “By Your Leave”, RKO-Radio’s new romantic comedy featuring Frank Morgan, Genevieve Tobin, and a strong cast. A husband . . . proposes a marital holiday. . . . It doesn’t occur to him that his wife may take advantage of the holiday in similar fashion. . . .The husband proves a dismal flop as a Romeo, but the wife meets a romantic young explorer who is all for taking her away with him. Coming to the America Theatre.

Notice–Rules and regulations for Whisker Month will appear in next issue of the Independent. Let Whiskers grow until then. Valuable prizes to be awarded.

100-years ago:

Local items: Did you feel the balm of spring in the atmosphere Wednesday. The Deacons Dance was a grand success, everyone enjoyed themselves. The appearance of the show windows of Ed Lewis’ store makes one feel like they were living in a town.

(more Local items): Dr. Groom has purchased the entire stock of drugs from E.A. Gardener. The Dr. will conduct a first class prescription drug store, and carry a complete and up-to-date stock of drugs. The businesses will be conducted under the name of the “Star Valley Pharmacy.”

Grover news: It is a settled fact that we are to have another store here, the goods to stock the same are on their way, and Mr. Ole Anderson our Post Master, will be the one that will dish the stuff out to all comers.

(more Grover news): One of those awful hurricanes that has raged lately, blowed the door of Orson Eggleston’s house wide open, and before Orson realized what had happened, a little black haired girl was discovered in bed with his wife, but he says it’s all right, and that he is going to try and make good, part of the 6,000 population that Apostle Clawson said Star Valley would have in a few years.