LUSK – The Niobrara County High School boys basketball team hosted Lingle-Fort Laramie Friday evening and while both squads had trouble getting shots to fall, the Tigers led 10-4 early.

Walker Kupke buried a 3-pointer as halftime approached and Lusk began a 7-0 run into the locker room. Ryan Bruegger’s 25-foot buzzer beater saw the Tigers ahead 24-13.

Jayce Cummins nailed a couple of treys to open the third quarter in pushing the lead to 33-16. Despite some sloppy turnovers, NCHS bumped the lead to 40-19 with one period to go. When Cory Bruegger’s 3-pointer went down, Lusk had doubled up the Doggers, and head coach Eddie Fullmer could enjoy his first varsity win over his alma matter. As the varsity went to the bench, Collin Taylor capped the scoring with a triple of his own for the 55-29 victory.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

LFLHS 4 9 6 10 – 29

NCHS 10 14 16 15 – 55

TEAM STATS

LFLHS: 7/33 FG; 3/15 3PT; 6/14 FT; 33 REB; 8 AST; 7 STL; 23 TO; 15 PF

NCHS: 16/32 FG; 6/27 3PT; 5/12 FT; 43 REB; 13 AST; 11 STL; 18 TO; 18 PF

NCHS PLAYER STATS: Scoring R. Bruegger 18; C. Bruegger 11; Cummins 10; Kupke 5; Wells 4; Molzahn 4; Taylor 3. Rebounds- Molzahn 12; Cummins 8; Kupke 8; R. Bruegger 7. Blocks- R. Bruegger 7.

For Saturday’s trip to Fremont County, the Tigers encountered a much more athletic and deeper squad than the night before. Ryan Bruegger had the hot hand early with a pair of threes and Kupke added one as NCHS built a 10-point lead. Ryan Bruegger’s fadeaway jumper and free toss pushed Lusk to the 18-5 first stanza advantage. The Wranglers chipped into the lead during the second, but Kupke’s deep basket kept the Tigers ahead by five at the break.

The home team overtook NCHS midway through the third quarter at 42-41. Yet, Ryan Bruegger was on his way to a career scoring night, and his hat trick of triples regained the lead for Lusk.

Kupke drilled another bomb, but Shoshoni led 51-50. Cummins buried a trey to regain the lead for Lusk, but when Dylan Molzahn and Ryan Bruegger fouled out within minutes of each other, the Tigers were in trouble. As time wound down, the Wranglers were able to hold on for the 65-59 win.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

NCHS 18 11 21 9 – 59

SHS 5 19 27 14 – 65

TEAM STATS

NCHS: 12/30 FG; 9/18 3PT8/21 FT; 33 REB; 13 AST; 7 STL; 19 TO; 18 PF

SHS: 22/34 FG; 3/14 3PT; 12/25 FT; 28 REB; 12 AST; 12 STL; 10 TO; 16 PF

NCHS PLAYER STATS: Scoring- R. Bruegger 31; Kupke 10; Molzahn 7; C. Bruegger 4; Wells 4; Cummins 3. Rebounds- R. Bruegger 12; Molzahn 6; Kupke 5.

The JV went to Torrington last week to face the Blazer freshmen and lost 41-26 as Cory Bruegger put in 20 points. Against the Doggers, NCHS won 16-15 in two quarters of play as Caleb Miller led the Tigers with seven points. They lost to Shoshoni 22-17, despite hitting five three pointers. On Monday, they defeated Guernsey- Sunrise 44-17 before falling to Wheatland 63-55.

This week NCHS travels to Glenrock on Friday (7 p.m.) and Southeast (4 p.m.) on Saturday.