Photos/Candy Dooper

The NCHS Lady Tigers knew they had just three games to play and earning a win in the first two would mean a little momentum before Monday’s pigtail game against Lingle-Ft. Laramie. Friday night’s game in Wright saw the Lusk girls with some bus lag, as the offense had trouble getting started. The Lady Panthers scored 11 points in each of the first two quarters behind nearly 50 percent shooting from the floor. NCHS on the other hand managed just nine points, five from the free throw line.

The Lady Tigers made a scoring surge in the second half behind three pointers from four different players and better defense. NCHS closed the third quarter gap to 26-20. Despite outscoring the Lady Panthers again in the fourth quarter, it wasn’t enough as Lusk fell 32-29.

NCHS Scoring- Hannah Shoults 9, Katelynn Miller 7, Breanna Bredthauer 7, Dani Dooper 3, Jessie Sturman 3. Rebounds- Sturman 5, Rebecca Lashmett 5. Assists- Dooper 3. Steals- Dooper 4.

NCHS: 9/36 FG, 7/16 FT, 4/20 3pt, 29 REB, 14 PF, 15 TO.

WRIGHT: 13/33 FG, 4/8 FT, 2/11 3pt, 26 REB, 17 PF, 11 TO.

Lady Tiger seniors Breanna Bredthauer, Morgan Hanson, Chrisanna Lund and Jessie Sturman were honored for what was originally scheduled to be their last game in Tiger Gym. Guernsey-Sunrise was the visitor Saturday afternoon and other than a Hannah Shoults three pointer, the Lady Tigers were ice cold and down 9-3 after one.

The second quarter might have set a record for offensive futility as the teams combined for four points. NCHS scored all four of them and the 9-7 halftime score looked more like a good football game than basketball game.

Bredthauer drained a couple three pointers in the third quarter to take the lead and a Rebecca Lashmett layup art the buzzer kept the Lady Tigers ahead 19-18. Dani Dooper drained a triple at the 5:26 mark but from there the Lusk offense vanished. G-S scored the last eight points of the game to win 30-23.

NCHS Scoring- Dooper 7, Bredthauer 6, Shoults 3, Miller 3, Lund 2, Lashmett 2. Rebounds- Lashmett 7, Dooper 6, Shoults 6. Steals- Dooper 5, Shoults 5.

NCHS: 7/56 FG, 5/10 FT, 4/24 3pt, 38 REB, 14 PF, 19 TO.

G-S: 12/33 FG, 4/8 FT, 2/6 3pt, 30 REB, 15 PF, 25 TO.

Despite losing both of the last two games, Lusk’s play in game was also the rubber match against the Lady Doggers. The teams split the regular season series- each winning on the other’s home court, despite the game scheduled in Lingle being played at EWC.

Monday night’s game started out completely different than the previous meetings as Shoults, Miller and Bredthauer each buried three-pointers in the first quarter. Lusk jumped out to an 11-6 lead and kept it going right into the second quarter. Sturman was fouled on a three-point attempt and made two of the three free throws for the 11 point lead. Bredthauer sank another triple late in the quarter as NCHS rolled into halftime with a 24-11 lead.

After opening their largest lead of the game at 27-11, NCHS got sloppy with the ball and let LFL hang around and chip into the lead. Barely a minute into the final period, a raucous Tiger crowd was silenced as the lead was suddenly down to just 32-27.

Minutes later Sturman was fouled on her successful shot attempt and made the free throw to extend the lead to 37-27. Despite five turnovers in the fourth quarter, NCHS held off the Lady Doggers for the 47-37 victory.

NCHS Scoring- Lashmett 10, Bredthauer 9, Sturman 8, Shoults 8, Dooper 5, Amber Christianson 4, Miller 3, Rebounds- Shoults 8, Bredthauer 7, Lashmett 6. Assists- Dooper 6.

NCHS: 17/41 FG, 9/14 FT, 4/11 3pt, 35 REB, 9 PF, 26 TO.

LFL: 14/44 FG, 4/4 FT, 5/23 3pt, 18 REB, 15 PF, 16 TO.

The reward for beating LFL will be a first round matchup with the unbeaten, two-time defending state champions from Bug Horn. Game time is 4 p.m. on Thursday afternoon. Douglas High School is the site of this year’s 2A East Regionals on Feb.25-27. Admission prices and all tournament brackets are available online at www.whsaa.org.

The JV ladies wrapped up their season last week and after losing in Wright 27-17, NCHS tied G-S 13-13 in two quarters of action. The JV finishes with a 12-8 record while the C-squad ended up with a 5-9 record.



For the complete article see the 02-24-2010 issue.

Click here to purchase an electronic version of the 02-24-2010 paper.