The Evanston High School boys’ basketball team closed out 2024 and opened 2025 with identical 2-1 records at the Flaming Gorge Classic and the East Idaho Holiday Shootout, ending their non-conference schedule with a 5-4 record.

At the Flaming Gorge Classic in Green River Dec. 19-21, the Red Devils (5-4) opened the tournament with a 64-29 win over Bear Lake, but stumbled against Uintah on Day 2, 68-63. Evanston closed out the tournament — and 2024 — on Saturday, Dec. 21, with a 63-37 win over Pinedale.

After a short break for the holidays, the Red Devils were back in action at Idaho Falls over the weekend for the East Idaho Holiday Shootout. Competing in the Marine Bracket, Evanston opened the tournament with a 78-56 win over host Idaho Falls, then followed that with a 53-42 win over Teton in the Marine Bracket semifinals.

Squaring off against Bonneville Saturday for the Marine Bracket Championship, the Red Devils started strong but ran out of steam, falling to the Bees 75-64.

“We did some good things — we improved upon a few areas that we needed to,” said EHS head coach Rob Watsabaugh. “Our pace offensively was good, and — especially in the first game against Idaho Falls — we got out and got after it. Putting up 70-plus points was good for us, and then a pretty good job defensively to keep them right around that 50-point mark. It was a good opener, and then you look at the Teton game, a little bit more structure to that one — definitely kind of a tough battle all four quarters. But we ended up on the good end of things there. We were pretty pleased with those first two days.”

East Idaho Holiday Shootout

Red Devils 78,

Idaho Falls 56

Participating in the East Idaho Shootout Holiday Shootout for the first time as a program, the Red Devils opened the tournament Thursday against host Idaho Falls, making short work of the Tigers, 78-56.

Evanston blasted out of the gate, going on a 23-6 run to open the contest. The Tigers won the second quarter 15-14, though the Red Devils still held a commanding 37-21 lead at the break.

After outpointing their hosts 20-16 in the third, Evanston went back-and-forth with the Tigers in the final frame, though Idaho Falls was unable to gain any ground in the 78-56 loss.

“We definitely took advantage of getting the ball up the floor early,” Watsabaugh said. “We were running our lanes, scoring in a variety of ways. In some of our transition sets and just our numbered break getting out and going was good for us to execute and be successful there. And also, running some sets in the half court that ended up being successful, as well. So I thought offensively, it was a really good game for us.”

The Red Devils did an excellent job of spreading the ball around, with four of the five starters finishing in double figures. Jordan Mendez led the charge with 21 points – to go along with eight rebounds and four assists — followed by Ryker Lind with 13 points. Jay Hill and Clayton Cook finished with 11 points each, with Cook posting a double-double, pulling down 11 rebounds in the contest.

Brenner Lym added eight points, while Ryker Pace and Brooks Searle rounded out the scoring with seven points apiece.

Red Devils 53,

Teton 42

Day 2 of the East Idaho Holiday Shootout found the Red Devils squaring off against Teton, in a game that featured a slower pace but just as much excitement as the win against Idaho Falls.

Led by three Red Devils in double figures, and a strong defensive showing in the second half, Evanston held off a scrappy Timberwolves squad for their second win of the tourney, 53-42.

“This game was definitely slower paced — a more disciplined game overall,” Watsabaugh said. “I thought we battled well — they went on a few runs and then so did we. It went back and forth and we got stops when we needed to and executed offensively fairly well throughout that game.”

Jordan Mendez led the Red Devils with 15 points, to go along with six rebounds, four assists and two steals. Clayton Cook just missed his second double-double of the tournament, netting 14 points and grabbing nine rebounds; Ryker Lind finished with 10 points and nine rebounds. Brooks Searle and Brenner Lym added five points apiece, while Jay Hill and Ryker Pace closed out the scoring with two points each.

Bonneville 75,

Red Devils 64

The Red Devils met Bonneville in the championship game of the Marine Bracket, and trailed by 10 at the break, 42-32.

Evanston outplayed the Bees in the second half, but was unable to make up the first-half deficit, returning home with a 75-64 loss.

“We were playing really good ball, but Bonneville kind of took advantage of some turnovers,” Watsabaugh said. “We had a good offensive first quarter, but defensively, giving up 20-plus points is not what we had been doing. And I have to give Bonneville some credit — they were shooting the ball well and they had some length and athleticism that gave us some fits here and there.”

Four Red Devil starters once again scored in double figures, led by Ryker Lind, with 16 points. Brenner Lym had the hot hand from behind the arc, sinking three 3-pointers to finish with 11 points, while Jordan Mendez and Jay Hill finished with 10 points apiece.

Clayton Cook added nine points, while Brooks Searle and Ryker Pace chipped in three points apiece; Paul Baxter closed out the scoring with two points.

“We kept battling to make it an 11-point game at the finish, but, offensively, there were times where I think we could have executed a lot better,” Watsabaugh said. “If we look at eight, 10 possessions that we could have back — whether it’s turnovers or bad shots — we can find better shots that would have helped a little bit. it didn’t turn out right, but there are things to learn from and be better at in two weeks when we take the floor for our conference opener.”

Flaming Gorge Classic

Red Devils 64,

Bear Lake 29

The Red Devils opened the final non-conference tournament of 2024 with a decisive win over Bear Lake, building a 30-12 first-half lead, en route to a 64-29 win.

Ryker Lind led the charge with 24 points — including four 3-pointers — followed by Jordan Mendez with 11 points. Clayton Cook finished with eight points and eight rebounds, while Brenner Lym and Ryker Pace added six points apiece. Brooks Searle chipped in five points.

Uintah 68,

Red Devils 63, OT

Day 2 of the Flaming Gorge Classic found the Red Devils in a wild one against Uintah, going into overtime before falling 68-63.

Clayton Cook recorded a double-double, scoring 20 points and grabbing 10 rebounds; he also had three assists. Ryker Lind also netted 20 points, followed by Jay Hill with nine points, Jordan Mendez with eight points and Brooks Searle with four points.

Red Devils 63,

Pinedale 37

The Red Devils closed out the Flaming Gorge Classic — and 2024 — on a high note, routing Pinedale 63-37.

Four Red Devil starters finished in double figures, led by Clayton Cook with 16 points; he also had seven rebounds. Ryker Lind and Jay Hill finished with 12 points apiece, while Jordan Mendez rounded out the double-digit point scorers with 11.