The Lady Tiger basketball team faced long odds of advancing to state with three of the state’s top five teams residing in the East bracket. First up was the thorn in every 2A team’s side the past three years, Big Horn. Not only have the Rams won the past two state basketball championships and three state volleyball championships, they have not been beaten this season and are the heavy favorites again.

The full court pressure of Big Horn forced NCHS into several turnovers and easy layups at the BH end, and after one quarter it was 12-5 Rams.

Despite the pressure, the Lady Tigers found a way to the free throw line with seven points coming in the first half. Unfortunately most of their shots were not going in the hoop and NCHS trailed 22-11.

Big Horn went on a run early in the third quarter to open a 27-11 lead over the Lady Tigers as their starters went to the bench for the day. Lusk continued to struggle shooting the ball, hitting just four field goals in the second half. Despite holding Big Horn under their season scoring average, it wasn’t enough as NCHS lost 40-23.

NCHS Scoring: Hannah Shoults 10, Rebecca Lashmett 4, Dani Dooper 3, Krista Hanson 2, Katelynn Miller 2, Amber Christianson 2. Rebounds- Shoults 8, Dooper 6, Lashmett 5.

NCHS: 6/34 FG, 11/16 FT, 0/8 3pt, 33 REB, 11 PF, 29 TO.

BIG HORN: 16/45 FG, 7/11 FT, 1/12 3pt, 27 REB, 17 PF, 17 TO.

Friday morning’s elimination game was against Southeast, a surprise loser the night before to Sundance. The Lady Cyclones showed that loss was not a fair assessment of their team, as they came back to beat the Lady Tigers, Burns and Pine Bluffs to win third place.

Southeast wasted little time getting the upper hand with a 12-7 lead over the Lady Tigers after one quarter and doubling that in the second. Lusk was shooting the ball more but the lid on the rim was pretty solid.

The third quarter again saw the Lady Cyclones take control as they stretched the lead to 37-18. Three minutes into the final quarter they opened up their biggest lead at 43-19 and closed the win 44-21. The loss ended the Lady Tigers season with a 4-21 record and marks the fifth time in six years the Lady Tigers will not make the trip to Casper, but only the sixth miss since 1986.

NCHS Scoring- Shoults 6, Miller 5, Breanna Bredthauer 4, Dooper 3, Chrisanna Lund 2, Emma Tschacher 1. Rebounds- Jessie Sturman 5, Shoults 5. Steals- Sturman 4.

NCHS: 8/35 FG, 4/15 FT, 1/9 3pt, 25 REB, 11 PF, 20 TO.

SOUTHEAST: 20/43 FG, 3/7 FT, 1/8 3pt, 32 REB, 16 PF, 17 TO.



For the complete article see the 03-03-2010 issue.

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