The senior parents served a great meal before Lady Tiger basketball coaches Deb Murray, Bryan Engelker and Rich Murray handed out awards at the team banquet last week. Assistant coach Rich Murray had set a team goal of 45 combined wins and the three levels surpassed it by six. The 22-6 varsity, 18-1 JV and 11-1 C squad eclipsed the previous record of 45 set by the 96-97 and 97-98 teams.

Among some of the numerous other accomplishments included winning the SEWAC for the first time since 02-03- which was also the last time NCHS won 20 games in a season. This was the tenth team in school history to win at least 20, first win at state since 2007 and NCHS spent five weeks atop the Wyopreps coaches/media poll during the regular season.

Seniors Miranda Gilkey, Trisha Hales and Amanda Smith each earned their white letters, while classmates Emma Ceaglske and Makayla Waldock picked up their third letter. Juniors Taylor Gaukel, Ashley Christianson and Sadie Sturman now have three varsity letters while Kianna Blackburn, Makenna Engelker, Julianne Graham and Mackenzie Lyons have two each. Freshmen Courtney Rowley and Riley Shaw earned their first. All five seniors were give their Captain bars as well.

All four Lady Tigers from last year’s All Conference and All SEWAC teams repeated the feat. Smith (3x), Gilkey, Hales and Gaukel were named to each team while Gilkey was the Player of the Year and became the first Lusk player to be named All State in 13 years. Erin Nelson was the last in 2005.

Christianson won the free throw award with a .784 pct and also won the team free throw ladder award. Smith was the rebounding leader with 211 and also won the team Offensive Efficiency Award (1.21). Mackenzie Lyons won the Most Improved, while Hales claimed the Defensive Excellence Award. Gilkey was named the 3 point winner (23) and Gaukel got the Handle Award (2.46). Waldock and Ceaglske rightfully were given the Coaches Award.

There were nine Iron Lady Awards given out: Gilkey, Christianson, Lyons, Graham, Sturman, Shaw, Rowley, Lucy Ceaglske and Jozalyn Potter. Six Lady Tigers also joined the 10,000 Shot Club as E. Ceaglske did it for the fourth time, followed by Christianson (3), Engelker (2), Graham (2), Lyons (20) and Shaw (2).

Junior varsity winners included Christianson taking the Offensive Efficiency (1.26) and Handle Award (3.5). Blackburn and Graham shared the Outstanding Defensive Player Award, and Graham took the Rebounding Award (115). Rowley won the Free Throw Award (62 pct) and Engelker was Most Improved. Sturman and Shaw won the Coaches Award.

The freshman-heavy C squad showed a lot of promise that despite losing one of the best senior classes in many years, the future is bright. Potter won the Offensive Efficiency Award (.91), Handle Award (1.77) and Free Throw Award (41 pct). Anna Richardson won the Outstanding Defensive Player award and Abby Kottwitz was Most Improved. Kottwitz shared the Rebound Award with Danni Larson (86 each). The Coaches Award went to lone soph L. Ceaglske and Bryn Bruch.