Weekend split for Lady Tiger basketball

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LUSK – Niobrara County High School began their second lap around the conference schedule last weekend with a pair of games at Tiger Gym, as Glenrock and Southeast visited.

The Lady Herders have had a difficult season- yet the Lady Tigers did not look particularly sharp all night. Ashley Christianson sank a three pointer to get NCHS off on a 16-4 first quarter lead, but five Lusk turnovers slowed the attack. The lead grew to 29-7 at the break and 37-11 after three quarters. As the benches emptied and clock wound down the Lady Tigers were in control of the 41-20 victory.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

GLENROCK 4 3 4 9 – 20

NCHS 16 13 8 4 – 41

TEAM STATS

GLENROCK N/A

NCHS 17/47 FG; 1/9 3PT; 4/9 FT; 43 REB; 13 PF; 19 TO

NCHS PLAYER STATS: 

Scoring – Gaukel 11, Christianson 11, Rowley 9, Richardson 4, Graham 4, Blackburn 2. Rebounds- Gaukel 8, Christianson 6, Richardson 6, Rowley 5.

Anytime NCHS and Southeast get together on the basketball court, it’s going to resemble more of a rugby scrum than high octane scoring contests. The latest edition was no different as Southeast held a slim 6-5 lead after one, and easy baskets in the paint were nonexistent. Several Lady Tiger possessions ended in a turnover or defensive rebound that helped the visitors stretch the lead to 15-7 at halftime.

Lusk had no answer for Hailey Anderson as the senior poured in 12 of her game high 21 points while the Lady Cyclones extended their lead to 31-18. The Lady Tigers made a furious comeback in the final stanza but six missed free throws down the stretch were the difference in the 37-34 defeat.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

SEHS 6 9 16 11 – 37

NCHS 5 2 11 16 – 34

TEAM STATS

SEHS 13/47 FG; 2/7 3PT; 9/16 FT; 39 REB; 22 PF; 19 TO

NCHS 9/44 FG; 0/12 3PT; 16/29 FT; 35 REB; 18 PF; 20 TO

NCHS PLAYER STATS: 

Scoring – Rowley 9, Christianson 9, Lyons 6, Gaukel 4, Shaw 2, Sturman 2, Graham 2. Rebounds- Gaukel 7, Rowley 6, Christianson 6.

The JV swept their weekend games with a 43-30 win over Glenrock, as Abby Kottwitz poured in 17 points and Joz Potter scored 11. The game against Southeast was much closer as the Lady Tigers withstood a late rally to win 29-27. Potter led with eight points and Kottwitz scored six.

The Lady Tigers wrap up the regular season at Pine Bluffs Friday. JV starts at 4 p.m., followed by the varsity at 5:30. The 2A East Regionals are next week with Thursday’s first round games in Wright. On Feb. 22-23 games shift to Gillette with games at either Gillette College’s Pronghorn Center or Thunder Basin High School. All tournament brackets and admission prices are available at whsaa.org.