BURNS – It was a tough weekend for Lady Tiger basketball, as they traveled to face the defending 2A state champs Friday night. The Lady Broncs lost some key players and longtime head coach Barry Ward, but still have plenty of pieces to return to state.

Niobrara County High School took a 3-2 lead but it didn’t last as the home team pulled out to a 13-7 first period lead. Defense, turnovers and cold shooting led to a low scoring second and 19-12 score.

Burns used an 11-2 run, but Rachel Krein’s jumper and following free throw halted it. With one quarter to play it was 34-17 for the hosts. Phoebe Allbright’s three pointer pulled NCHS within 13 but it wasn’t enough to rally a comeback in the 43-28 final score.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

NCHS 7-5-5-11--28

BHS 14-6-15-9--44

TEAM STATS

NCHS: 8/33 FG; 1/8 3PT; 9/11 FT; 34 REB; 1 AST; 6 STL; 25 TO; 10 PF

BHS: 15/44 FG; 4/20 3PT; 2/7 FT; 38 REB; 5 AST; 15 STL; 14 TO; 15 PF

NCHS PLAYER STATS: Scoring- R. Krein 12, Allbright 5, M. ZumBrunnen 4, Potter 4, Manning 2, G. ZumBrunnen 1. Rebounds- R. Krein 7, Potter 5.

LUSK – Saturday’s task wasn’t any easier as the Lady Cyclones have been perennial contenders at the 1A state tournament. Many key players graduated but Southeast is still a tough-minded defensive unit.

Turnovers plagued both squads early as the visitors held an 8-2 lead on the scoreboard, but combined for 11 turnovers. The turnover problems fixed themselves in the second, but still neither team could find much scoring success. The visitors’ advantage was just four at the midpoint.

The Lady Tigers battled back as Allbright knocked down a pair of triples 90 seconds apart to knot the game at 20. Melody ZumBrunnen got into the act with a trey, yet the Lady Cyclones held a 31-25 lead, entering the fourth. NCHS couldn’t manage a comeback in the 38-31 defeat.

The junior varsity lost at Burns 24-13 in two quarters with Marleigh Smith (7) and Sarah Krein (6) providing all the points. On Saturday they fell to the Lady Cyclones 23-18 in two quarters. Krein led with 9 points followed by Smith with six and Heidi DesEnfants adding a trey.

Lusk has a pair of home games this week as #1 1A Upton visits Thursday at 5:30 p.m. and Pine Bluffs Friday (3:15 JV, 5:30 varsity). On Saturday Burns and Sundance meet at Tiger Gym, beginning at noon.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

SEHS 8-7-16-7--38

NCHS 2-9-14-6--31

TEAM STATS

SEHS: 15/51 FG; 0/7 3PT; 8/13 FT; 38 REB; 10 AST; 11 STL; 14 TO; 17 PF

NCHS: 5/28 FG; 3/10 3PT; 12/22 FT; 31 REB; 7 AST; 8 STL; 20 TO; 15 PF

NCHS PLAYER STATS: Scoring- Allbright 10, R. Krein 9, G. ZumBrunnen 5, M. ZumBrunnen 4, Manning 1, Smith 1, Potter 1. Rebounds- R. Krein 9.