Thermopolis Bobcats @ Wyoming Indian Chiefs

Gametime: January 8th, 2026 // 7pm // Wyoming Indian High School

When Hot Springs County High School (Thermopolis) dropped from 3A ball to 2A ball in 2024, Wyoming hoops fans immediately placed the Bobcats in the conversation for best program in the classification – the other contender being, the perennial Wyoming Indian Chiefs. 

Last season the two programs squared off three times – a rather epic trilogy that pummeled the 2A narrative last February and March. If you’ve been tracking the storyline on wyomingfivestar.com, the two teams are gearing up for another post-season clash that will definitely have state-championship implications.

On Thursday, January 8th, the Bobcats of Thermopolis will journey 79 miles to Ethete, Wyoming – home of Chiefs Nation – to headline Wyoming-prep basketball in its newest calendar year. Wyoming Five Star has both teams ranked in 2A’s best-five teams – the Chiefs ranked #1, and the Bobcats ranked #2. 

The Bobcats are the defending champion, and look very good to start the season. Only playing four games before the Break leaves some to the imagination, but beating 3A Lander Valley and 3A Mountain View shows this group’s maturity and versatility. Cody Bomengen leads the way with 20.8ppg and 9rpg. Zak Hastie throws in 15ppg and 6.3rpg.

Although Wyoming Indian didn’t reach last year’s title game, the ‘25-26 Chiefs are looking back to their familiar self. Cordell Spoonhunter is finally back from 2024’s season-ending injury; Heeyei’Niitou Monroe-Black is starting to look like his older brothers. This team is very deep with reliable scorers and ball handlers like Parlayne Ferris and Jordan Black. Head Coach Craig Ferris has a lot to work with this year.

Preview

With a bit of turnover from last year’s title campaign, the Bobcats have responded well in the early goings of this season. The core group is back for their senior season, and appear to be among front-runners for another championship. Due to a couple Week-One cancellations, they’ve only played four games until Thursday. 

However, players like Cody Bomengen are glorified mistake-erasers. The 6’6 shooting-guard recently committed to Gillette Community College for basketball, and the eye-test justifies. He leads Thermopolis with 20.8ppg (#3 2A) and 9rpg (#5 2A). Bomengen’s shooting splits are a little underwhelming through four games (10% / 53% / 68%), but you can expect that to shore up over Christmas break. 

This particular group of Bobcats will be a half-court styled team, squaring up on both offense and defense, throwing and receiving haymakers throughout 2026. Thermopolis is a physical, hard-nosed team with newfound championship experience and an excellent coaching staff.

Thermopolis second-leading man, Zak Hastie, has had an excellent start to his senior campaign. Hastie is a lean, physical guard who stands about 6-foot-2. Whether it be in the zone defense, or picking up man-to-man, Hastie will find ways to thwart opposing offenses. He currently sits as the 3rd-best in 2A of player efficiency (EFF) with a +21. 

The Bobcats have played a tough schedule so far, albeit only four games before Christmas. To open the season, they beat 3A #3 Lander Valley in a stellar comeback; one week later they beat 3A Mountain View and Bear Lake, Idaho. They fell to 4A #2 Green River by seven points. 

The Chiefs of Wyoming Indian are currently ranked #1 in 2A, with an impressive 8-0 record to close 2025. The Chiefs are historically tough early in the season, bringing conditioning and intensity from square one. Before Christmas break, the Chiefs look dominant again beating teams by an average of 31 points. 

The 2026 Chiefs will be similar to Chiefs teams of the past. Positionless basketball has been embodied by Chiefs coaching staffs for decades, leading to never-ending defensive pressure and lightning strike three-pointers. The transition aspect of their offense will be torturous for any team in 2A. 

Last season’s Chief-team was apprehended by a season-ending injury to key player, Cordell Spoonhunter, who was involved in a car accident only days prior to the state tournament. But Spoonhunter has returned to the court, fully healthy, poised for another shot at a title. 

Headlining for the Chiefs this season is Heeyei’Niitou Monroe-Black, a 6-foot-2 senior averaging 19 points (#4 2A), 6 boards, and 5 assists per game. Monroe-Black is following in the footsteps of his older brothers, Cooxooei and Niieihii, who both graduated from Lander Valley High School and played college ball.

Head Coach Craig Ferris traditionally coaches his role-players very well. This year’s it’s players like Parlayne Ferris and Jordan Black – quick ball-handlers who share the ball and push the tempo in transition. 

Each season, the junior-varsity squad fight for positions on the varsity court with hopes of burying a timely three-ball, or a clutch steal late in the fourth quarter. The Chiefs are very deep this year, and you can expect them to play an up-paced style again this year. The Chiefs deploy four-of-the-top-five steal leaders in 2A, making their full-court-press just as formidable as ever. 

History

Over in Ethete, the Chiefs have been preparing for this game since last March – since March 7th, to be exact. The final game of the ‘24-25 trilogy took place at the Ford Wyoming Center, a 2A State Semi-Final matchup. The Bobcats won 60-47, making way for their Championship victory over Pine Bluffs the next evening. 

The matchup first took place on January 30th, 2025, when Thermopolis officially announced their 2A presence with a 20-point victory over Wyoming Indian. About eight weeks later, on  February 28th, the Chiefs took down Thermopolis in the regional championship game (hosted at Riverton High School) to split with Thermopolis. The grudge match was the aforementioned matchup in the State Semi-Finals. 

Since then, the Bobcats have graduated several key pieces like Brody Potter and the Dukes brothers (Delmonico and Armani). Those three players were massive factors in that win over Wyoming Indian, a team who hasn’t really graduated anyone. 

Prediction

A combination of home-court advantage, up-tempo offense, and aggressive passing-lane defense favor the Chiefs of Wyoming Indian. Craig Ferris has coached in countless games just like this, and he is no stranger to big moments with opponents playing their best basketball. The Chiefs have a chip on their shoulder, and a ship that needs to be righted after last season’s loss to Thermopolis at State. 

The Bobcats could really do themselves a huge favor by knocking down a few threes in the first quarter. If Bomengen has an average night, plus a few above-average performances from Hastie and Ellis Webber, the Bobcats could stun the Chiefs on the road. Coach Corpening said he expects to receive every opponent’s best-performance, so you can bet the Bobcats will be ready. 

Either way, this isn’t the last time we’ll see these teams collide. 

Edge: Chiefs 61-55 in Overtime

Players to Watch: 

Heeyei’Niitou Monroe-Black (consistent scoring/rebounding presence) 

Parlayne Ferris (steals, deflections, timely three-balls)

Zak Hastie (premier defense on Spoonhunter/Monroe-Black, above-avg. trips to the FT Line) 

Cody Bomengen (double-double, first half scoring) 

Broadcasts

Wyoming Indian: Cody Beers on WyoToday Media (YouTube), 93.1 FM

Thermopolis: Kevin Gerber on WyoToday Media (Youtube), 101.7 FM