LUSK – Before the Lady Tigers begin their second trip through conference play, they faced three non-conference opponents in four days. Sandwiched around a pair of home games against Lingle-Fort Laramie and Guernsey-Sunrise was a road trip to Moorcroft.

Friday evening the fouls added up quickly for both NCHS and the Lady Doggers in a low scoring 9-6 first period edge for Lusk. The offense warmed up as the defense forced eight turnovers in the second as NCHS stretched the lead to 25-10 at the break.

In continuing a disturbing trend this season, the Lady Tigers came out cold and ineffective and let L-FL climb back into the game. A 14-4 run from the visitors suddenly was just 29-24 entering the final stanza. Mackenzie Lyons and Kianna Blackburn made free throws down the stretch and Courtney Rowley scored a career-high 16 points as the Lady Tigers won 46-36.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

L-FL 6 4 14 12 – 36

NCHS 9 16 4 17 – 46

TEAM STATS

L-FL 16/58 FG; 1/9 3PT; 3/13 FT; 58 REB; 21 PF; 20 TO

NCHS 18/68 FG; 0/14 3PT; 10/23 FT; 50 REB; 16 PF; 11 TO

NCHS PLAYER STATS: 

Scoring - Rowley 16, Gaukel 14, Blackburn 4, Graham 4, Lyons 4, Christianson 2, Richardson 2. Rebounds- Lyons 11, Graham 10, Gaukel 8. Blocked Shots- Graham 5.

MOORCROFT – The upstart Lady Wolves were certain to be a challenge for NCHS and jumped to a 13-5 first quarter lead Saturday afternoon. NCHS clawed back behind nine of 12 free throw shooting but still trailed 28-20 at halftime.

The Lady Tigers kept attacking and narrowed the lead to five points entering the fourth quarter. Rowley came alive with 11 of her new career high 20 points coming down the stretch. The Lady Tigers took a 54-52 lead late but a last-second trey from the home team snatched away the 55-54 win.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

NCHS 5 15 13 21  54

MOORCROFT 15 13 10 17  55

TEAM STATS

NCHS 16/40 FG; 0/7 3PT; 22/32 FT; 37 REB; 18 PF; 24 TO

MOORCROFT 18/57 FG; 6/23 3PT; 13/19 FT; 37 REB; 23 PF; 19 TO

NCHS PLAYER STATS: 

Scoring - Rowley 20, Gaukel 13, Christianson 8, Shaw 4, Blackburn 2, Richardson 2, Graham 2, Lyons 2, Sturman 1. Rebounds- Gaukel 8, Lyons 7, Rowley 6.

LUSK – Monday evening the Guernsey-Sunrise Lady Vikings visited Tiger Gym without three starters, and it showed early as Lusk forced ten first period turnovers. Ashley Christianson buried a three pointer and the Lady Tigers were off and running with a 21-2 lead. As halftime approached Rowley sank a trey and the lead grew to 35-3. Head Coach Deb Murray got all twelve girls in uniform into the game before the break, as NCHS was in complete control.

The Lady Tigers scored at will in putting up a 14-0 third period run on the visitors. By the time the fourth began, the running clock was set in motion and the JV finished off a 62-9 win. 

SCORE BY QUARTERS

G-S 2 3 0 4  9

NCHS 21 14 14 13  62

TEAM STATS

G-S 3/25 FG; 0/7 3PT; 3/8 FT; 19 REB; 7 PF; 24 TO

NCHS 28/58 FG; 3/12 3PT; 3/8 FT; 38 REB; 10 PF; 10 TO

NCHS PLAYER STATS: 

Scoring - Gaukel 14, Rowley 13, Richardson 6, Potter 6, Christianson 5, Lyons 5, Bruch 4, Blackburn 4, Shaw 3, Graham 2.

The JV defeated the Lady Doggers 36-31 as Joz Potter led with a dozen points. Abby and Peyton Kottwitz each scored six points and Anna Richardson had five. At Moorcroft the Lady Tigers came up short 49-29 with Potter, Richardson and A. Kottwitz each scoring six points.

The C Squad hosted Pine Bluffs last week and held on for a slim 39-38 win. Danni Larson led NCHS with ten points while Potter had eight and Bryn Bruch returned from an injury to score six points. They had little trouble with G-S in two quarters of a 35-11 win. P. Kottwitz scored ten to lead NCHS.

This weekend marks the last home games of the season as Glenrock visits Friday (3:30 LEMS and 5:30 p.m.) and Southeast is the opponent for Senior Day on Saturday (1 and 2:30 p.m.).