The NCHS girls basketball team earned the #2 SE seed for the 2A East Regionals during the conference season, but a first round loss spoiled their favorable spot in the bracket. As a result, Lusk had to fight back through the losers bracket.

Sundance earned the #3 NE seed and was the Lady Tigers first round opponent Thursday at Campbell County High School. Both teams spent the early minutes feeling the other out, and the result was a dozen turnovers and very little offense. Taylor Gaukel had Lusk’s only points of the quarter with a jumper and following free throw as the Lady Bulldogs led 5-3. Miranda Gilkey kept NCHS in the game with six points (on her way to a career high 19), but the Lady Tigers struggled inside. Sundance held a slim 18-15 lead at the half.

The Lady Bulldogs packed their 2-3 zone even tighter in the second half, yet the Lusk shooters had trouble connecting. This allowed Sundance to edge out to an eight point lead after three periods. Gilkey found a sweet spot from behind the arc and knocked down a pair to get the Lady Tigers within 33-31 with plenty of time left. Despite adding another trey moments later, Lusk didn’t have an answer for 5’10” freshman sensation Rigan McInerney down the stretch. She scored ten of her seventeen in the fourth quarter as Sundance pulled off the upset with a scorching 10 of 13 from the free throw line in the final frame. The 47-40 loss sent NCHS into the loser bracket against Burns on Friday.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

SUNDANCE 5 13 13 16  47

NCHS 3 12 8 17  40

TEAM STATS

SUNDANCE: 15/33 FG, 2/7 3PT, 15/19 FT, 22 REB, 15 PF, 19 TO 

NCHS: 14/49 FG, 3/19 3PT, 9/13 FT, 35 REB, 19 PF, 19 TO

NCHS PLAYER STATS: Scoring- Gilkey 19, Gaukel 8, Trisha Hales 6, Amanda Smith 6. Rebounds- Smith 8, Hales 7, Pfister 6, Gaukel 6. Assists- Pfister 5.

Knowing an opportunity was lost, the Lady Tigers took their frustrations out against Burns the next day. Gaukel helped NCHS to a fast start with her early triple and Smith’s putback at the buzzer had Lusk up 18-6 after one stanza. Both teams became quite turnover prone in the second with seven apiece and Gaukel’s three pointer gave Lusk the 26-8 lead. Another buzzer beater-this time by Gaukel, sent the Lady Tigers to the locker room with a 34-10 lead.

Smith and Hales dominated the paint, in an element that was held in check the night before. When Hales sank a triple to extend the lead to 30 points, it was clear NCHS would live to play another day. NCHS cruised to the 62-29 victory as head coach Deb Murray emptied the bench for the final five minutes.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

BURNS 6 4 8 11  29

NCHS 18 16 14 14  62

TEAM STATS

BURNS: 8/38 FG, 2/9 3PT, 11/27 FT, 32 REB, 26 PF, 32 TO

NCHS: 22/50 FG, 3/9 3PT, 15/33 FT, 54 REB, 17 PF, 19 TO

NCHS PLAYER STATS: Scoring- Gaukel 15, Gilkey 13, Hales 13, Smith 10, Mackenzie Lyons 5, Makenna Engelker 3, Pfister 2, Sturman 1. Rebounds- Hales 12, Gaukel 9, Smith 9, Emma Ceaglske 6. Steals- Pfister 5.

Friday’s win gave Lusk an opportunity to avenge a pair of early season losses to Wright on Saturday morning. While an extra couple dozen fans braved nasty roads to join the bleacher-butt weary diehards, the cheering didn’t last as long as everyone had hoped. Hales got the Lady Tigers off fast with eight points, the last coming on a free throw to tie the game at 11. The Lady Panthers took the lead for good and held a 17-12 lead after one. Wright was able to use their size advantage to stake an eight point edge, but 9 of 11 free throw shooting kept NCHS within 31-27 at the break.

The score for the majority of the third period was locked at 35-33 in favor of the Lady Panthers. As the clock wound down, Wright soph Shelby Apodaca launched an NBA three pointer that went in for a 42-35 lead. A collective groan came from the Tiger faithful, as time suddenly became very critical. Ceaglske gave the Lady Tigers one last hope with a pair of three pointers. The first came at 4:16 from her favorite spot near the top, the other an old fashioned layup and free throw to bring Lusk within 51-41 30 seconds later. Wright used their battle-tested volleyball experience to hold on and send NCHS home for the season in the 58-46 final score. The Lady Tigers finished the season 12-12, and will take this experience into next season- as Pfister is the only senior on the varsity roster.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

WRIGHT 17 14 11 16  58

NCHS 12 15 8 11  46

TEAM STATS

WRIGHT: 22/42 FG, 3/7 3PT, 11/17 FT, 32 REB, 22 PF, 24 TO

NCHS: 13/48 FG, 1/8 3PT, 19/29 FT, 30 REB, 16 PF, 16 TO

NCHS PLAYER STATS: Scoring- Gilkey 12, Hales 11, Ceaglske 10, Gaukel 6, Sturman 2, Smith 2, Ashley Christianson 1. Rebounds- Smith 8, Gaukel 7, Hales 6.