With just one game to tune up before the upcoming 2A East Regional Tournament, the NCHS boys went to Glenrock last Friday. Despite the loss, the Tigers had already qualified for games this weekend at EWC.

The Tigers had no answer for Herder Tucker Bopp on the defensive end as he put up a dozen first quarter points. Meanwhile Lusk had a hard time getting baskets and trailed 17-3 after one period. Bopp sank a pair of treys in the second as the Tigers struggled with turnovers and fouls adding up.

NCHS made a run in the third behind an Alec Penfield triple and Ryan Gilkey netted a pair of baskets. But it wasn’t enough as Bopp drilled two more long rangers (en route to 28 points) and the home team led 54-22. As the fourth quarter wound down the Tigers were on the short end of the 66-24 final score.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

NCHS 3 6 13 2  24

GLENROCK 17 15 22 12  66

TEAM STATS

NCHS: 10/39 FG, 1/12 3PT, 1/8 FT, 33 REB, 24 TO, 16 PF

GLENROCK: 16/27 FG, 8/19 3PT, 10/16 FT, 38 REB, 16 TO, 11 PF

NCHS PLAYER STATS: Scoring- Penfield 5, Gilkey 4, Jake Heil 4, Dylan Miller 4, Jarit Krejci 2, James Stone 2, Teagan Tschacher 2, Ryan Bruegger 1. Rebounds- Bruegger 6, Heil 5, Stone 5. Assists- Hart 5.

The JV lost their season finale 36-34 at Glenrock but ended with an 11-8 record under assistant Andie Hubbard.

The Tigers open regionals against Wright Thursday evening at the college (7 p.m.). The teams faced off at the Coal Miners Classic in the second game of the season (a 15 point win for the home team), but since then the Panthers have rolled through the NE region. NCHS needs a strong, unified team effort if they want to qualify for state. A win would put Lusk in the 8:30 p.m. Friday semifinals against SE/Upton. A loss would pit NCHS against the Cyclone/Bobcat loser Friday at 1:30 p.m. All ticket prices and tournament brackets can be found at whsaa.org.