PINE BLUFFS – The Hornet’s Nest has always been one the most difficult places to win for the Tigers, and last Friday the home team got a win over the Lusk boys.

When their fourth 3-pointer was banked in near the end of the first period, Niobrara County High School was in trouble again.

Ryan Bruegger’s trey pulled the Tigers within 15-11 to open the second quarter, but an 11-0 run by the Hornets quickly halted the momentum. Walker Kupke stopped the run with a long ball, but NCHS was in a 32-18 halftime deficit.

The physical game began to take a toll on Lusk’s interior depth, and shortly after Ryan departed with his fifth foul the home team’s lead grew to 19. With one period to go the Hornet’s led 47-30 and won the game in a 56-42 final score.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

NCHS 6 12 12 12--42

PBHS 14 18 15 9--56

TEAM STATS

NCHS: 15/36 FG; 2/11 3PT; 6/13 FT; 31 REB; 10 AST; 5 STL; 13 TO; 15 PF

PBHS: 13/31 FG; 8/28 3PT; 6/10 FT; 38 REB; 17 AST; 10 STL; 11 TO; 20 PF

NCHS PLAYER STATS: Scoring- R. Bruegger 15; Molzahn 10; Kupke 9; Cummins 4; Wells 4. Rebounds- Molzahn 9; Cummins 7; Wells 6; R. Bruegger 6. Assists- Kupke 6.

Back in Tiger Gym on Saturday afternoon, the WyoPreps.com Coaches and Media Poll second-ranked Sundance Bulldogs visited.

Ryan Bruegger opened the game with a 3-pointer and an energetic Tiger squad took an early 8-3 lead. Bruegger drilled another, but the Bulldogs answered with a pair of their own long bombs and slipped ahead 13-11 as the first quarter came to a close.

Costly turnovers, combined with Bruegger and Dylan Molzahn in foul trouble, the visitors took firm control of the game with a 14-1 run. The Bulldogs sank two more treys and made five of eight free throws to open a 34-19 halftime lead.

Molzahn picked up his fifth foul early in the third stanza, and from there, Sundance’s big guys had their way in the low post. The lead became 21 points for the Bulldogs and were on their way to the 64-44 win.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

SHS 13 21 19 11 – 64

NCHS 11 8 13 12 – 44

TEAM STATS

SHS: 21/38 FG; 4/23 3PT; 10/16 FT; 41 REB; 15 AST; 17 STL; 15 TO; 22 PF

NCHS: 11/25 FG; 2/16 3PT; 16/24 FT; 33 REB; 9 AST; 8 STL; 8 BLK; 23 TO; 18 PF

NCHS PLAYER STATS: Scoring- R. Bruegger 23; Wells 7; Kupke 6; Cummins 4; C. Bruegger 3; Miller 1. Rebounds- Cummins 8; R. Bruegger 7; Kupke 5; Wells 5. Blocks- R. Bruegger 6.

The JV won both of their two-quarter games with a 20-17 win over the Hornets and 24-23 over the Bulldogs.

This week the Tigers visit Lingle-Fort Laramie (4 and 7 p.m.) on Friday before a trip to Moorcroft on Saturday (time TBA).