Pine Bluffs’ Fornstrom leads state in assists

Fornstrom’s game has evolved since he was a third-grader playing on a competitive team with his cousin, Haize Fornstrom, and Hunter Thompson, who are both now suiting up for the University of Wyoming.

Entering last week’s games, Andrew Fornstrom’s 6.5 assists per game were 1.6 per outing more than the second player in the 2A top 10. Fornstrom padded his lead last week.

The guard averaged 13.5 points, 11.5 assists, six rebounds and three steals to help the No. 1-ranked Hornets (12-1) to lopsided victories over Lusk and Lingle-Fort Laramie. Fornstrom scored 15 points, dished out 14 assists and grabbed 10 rebounds in a 94-54 win at Lusk.

Those efforts also earned Fornstrom Prep Athlete of the Week honors from WyoSports’ Cheyenne staff.

Fornstrom’s approach to sharing the basketball changed when he started playing with kids his own age as a fifth-grader. One of his coaches sat him down and told him he had to be a leader and distributor.

Fornstrom averaged a 2A-best 6.3 assists as a junior.

“It’s cool to score 30 points in a game, but I like it better when I maybe score 10 points and have 10 assists,” he said. “To me, that’s as good as scoring 30. It takes a couple people to get the job done.”

Part of the reason Fornstrom enjoys assists is because they can be a tough stat to accumulate, since the player with the ball can’t dribble more than once before he scores. Pine Bluffs is an ideal team for players to pile up assists, Fornstrom said.

“My assists numbers are a credit to my teammates,” he said. “Everyone is in the right spot more often than not, and everyone is doing a good job of catching and shooting. If they’re wide open, they shoot the ball and shoot it with

confidence.”

Second-year Hornets coach Tyler Kimzey echoes Fornstrom’s thoughts about his teammates, but said Fornstrom needs to give himself more credit.

“He is really good at attacking on one or two dribbles and kicking the ball to his teammates,” Kimzey said. “When you have better shooters, you’re going to get more

assists.

“A few years ago, we didn’t have six or seven kids who could hit that 15- or 20-footer like we do now. This year, we have kids coming off the bench who can hit that shot consistently. That helps.”

The Hornets have changed from a half-court offense to an attack that lends itself to pushing the tempo. It’s the style of play Fornstrom grew up in, and one he has continued to grow in.

“This fits his skills,” Kimzey said. “He is better at transition because he sees the court so well and is so good at finding guys in transition.

“The biggest area where he has improved is realizing which passes he can take a chance on in the half-court, and which times he should pull the ball back and make the easy play.”

Others recognized for their efforts include:

n Brooke Bailey and Sydney Miller, girls basketball, Cheyenne East: Bailey, a senior, scored 17 points during the Lady Thunderbirds’ 68-37 victory over Cheyenne Central.

Miller, also a senior, netted 15 in the win.

n Jenna Goodrich, girls indoor track and field, Cheyenne Central: The senior won both the long and triple jumps at the Wyoming Indoor Open on Friday in Laramie. She had a mark of 16 feet, 10.5 inches in long jump, and 34-6 in the triple jump. Goodrich also took fifth in the 55-meter dash (7.69 seconds).

n Lawson Lovering, boys basketball, Central: The sophomore forward scored 23 points during the Indians’ 67-54 loss to Cheyenne East.

n MacKenzie Marler, girls indoor track, East: The senior won both the 400- and 1,600-meter races at the Wyoming Indoor Open on Friday in Laramie. She finished the 400 in 1 minute, 6.28 seconds, and the 1,600 in 5:33.28.

n Erik Oliver, boys basketball, East: The senior guard scored 22 points in the Thunderbirds’ 67-54 victory over Cheyenne Central.

n Michael Shain, boys basketball, Pine Bluffs: The junior guard averaged 18 points to help the Hornets to a pair of wins.

n Amos Solano, wrestling, East: In his first meet back since suffering an injury, Solano went 6-1 and placed third in the 120-pound division at the Ron Thon Memorial Invitational in Riverton. Solano won three bouts by pin and three more by technical fall.

n Rylee Ward, girls basketball, Burns: The freshman guard averaged 16 points to help the Lady Broncs go 1-1 on the week. She scored the go-ahead basket in Burns’ 35-33 victory over Lovell on Saturday afternoon in Casper.

Jeremiah Johnke is the WyoSports editor. He can be reached at jjohnke@wyosports.net or 307-633-3137. Follow him on Twitter at @jjohnke.