NCHS went to Yoder Friday night for a matchup of teams still trying to find their way with new coaches on both sidelines. While the Cyclones have a few more wins, Lusk put their best defensive effort of the season together. SE posts Schmitt and Fullmer helped the hosts to a 10-3 lead but NCHS battled back. Defense and poor shooting contributed to the low scoring 14-9 halftime lead.

The Cyclones did just enough right in a turnover and ugly second half as the third quarter lead went from nine to fifteen in the 39-24 win.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

NCHS 3 6 7 8  24

SE 10 4 11 14  39

TEAM STATS

NCHS: 8/33 FG, 0/5 3PT, 8/17 FT, 30 REB, 19 TO, 15 PF

SE: 16/39 FG, 0/6 3PT, 7/14 FT, 40 REB, 21 TO, 15 PF

NCHS PLAYER STATS: Scoring- Dylan Miller 6, Monte Wade 5, Ryan Gilkey 4, James Blackburn 3, Jake Heil 2, James Stone 2, Eli Wagner 2. Rebounds- Blackburn 6, Heil 5.

When a team like Pine Bluffs is the opponent, it’s hard to gauge improvement for a young team. The Hornets haven’t lost since 2015 and are loaded for another title run. The Hornets scored a quick eight points before a fiery timeout from Tiger head coach Ryan Nelson. NCHS responded and kept PB within sight. After one quarter it was 20-6, and became 43-13 as the ten-deep Hornets rotated players in and out like a New York City train station.

The Tigers never gave up on rebounds, loose balls and hustle plays -despite being outmatched by the team that is a heavy favorite to send University of Wyoming-bound Hunter Thompson (and his boys) out with another state title. PB won 63-25 for their 37th consecutive victory and the Tigers 12th straight loss.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

PB 20 23 16 4  63

NCHS 6 7 8 4  25

TEAM STATS

PB: 26/48 FG, 3/8 3PT, 2/3 FT, 32 REB, 11 TO, 12 PF

NCHS: 8/39 FG, 1/5 3PT, 6/8 FT, 32 REB, 26 TO, 8 PF

NCHS PLAYER STATS: Scoring- Blackburn 7, Heil 6, Gilkey 4, Jacob Muir 4, Wade 2, Wagner 2. Rebounds- Heil 6, Blackburn 5. Good sportsmanship players of the game: Monte Wade and Chris Fornstrom-PB.

The JV beat Southeast 41-19 as Teagan Tschacher had nine points and Heil added eight. Cole Hart and Penfield each grabbed six rebounds. Pine Bluffs beat the injury-depleted Tigers 63-19 with Heil and Penfield scoring six points each. Penfield and Hart combined for 11 rebounds in the loss.

NCHS looks to regroup this week with a Friday trip to Glenrock (3 and 7:30 p.m.) before 1A Guernsey-Sunrise comes to Tiger Gym on Saturday. JV will play at 1 p.m. before varsity tips off at 4.