BURNS – The Niobrara County High School Tiger boys basketball team avoided a letdown after last week’s loss at Lingle-Fort Laramie. The Tigers’ Ridge Kupke converted an old fashioned three point play and Jackson Smith knocked down a long one for a quick ten point lead Friday night. By the end of the first quarter, Lusk had opened up a 30-11 scoring edge. The Tigers’ hot start cooled a bit, but the Broncs could only slice one point off by halftime in the 40-22 game. 

Fresh out of the locker room, Kupke nailed a trey and Brady Swisher’s layup and free toss moved the lead to 25 points. Aidan Mattheus sank a triple as NCHS closed the quarter on a 10-6 run. Kupke hit another three pointer and the varsity’s night was over in the 78-45 rout at The Chute.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

NCHS 30-10-24-14--78

BHS 11-11-13-10--45

TEAM STATS

NCHS: 26/58 FG; 4/20 3PT; 14/18 FT; 46 REB; 18 AST; 15 STL; 11 TO; 16 PF

BHS: 18/37 FG; 2/15 3PT; 3/12 FT; 28 REB; 9 AST; 5 STL; 25 TO; 15 PF

NCHS PLAYER STATS: Scoring- Kupke 15, Mattheus 13, Miller 10, Bieri 8, Brott 7, Swisher 7, Bruegger 6, Smith 5, Matthews 5, Assman 2. Rebounds- Bruegger 7, Miller 7, Mattheus 5, Bieri 5. Assists- Bruegger 5.

LUSK – Saturday afternoon at Tiger Gym, fans saw a pesky Southeast squad battle Lusk to a slim 11-8 Tiger lead. Swisher knocked down a three pointer but the Cyclones kept coming back. A late Tiger run gave them some breathing room with a 32-18 cushion at the break.

Kupke’s triple was answered by the visitors, but the fight they had dwindled when Lusk eased the margin to 20 points. Mattheus’ trey allowed head coach Ed Fullmer to empty the bench again for most of the final period. Camden Rose splashed a three pointer in the final minutes to take home the 71-40 victory.

The junior varsity defeated Burns 56-18 as Ryan Youngquist lead the scoring with a dozen. Raynce Brott was right behind with ten and Corbin Matthews added seven. On Saturday it was an almost identical score with the Tigers winning 55-19. Youngquist put up 15, Brott scored 14 and Hudson Leimser added eight.

This week the Tigers host Pine Bluffs on Friday, January 26, with junior varsity beginning at 4 p.m., followed by varsity at 7 p.m.  

Sundance and Burns are scheduled to meet on Saturday at Tiger Gym, with JV action at noon.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

SEHS 8-10-19-3--40

NCHS 11-21-22-17--71

TEAM STATS

SEHS: 10/20 FG; 5/13 3PT; 5/8 FT; 22 REB; 12 AST; 11 STL; 37 TO; 10 PF

NCHS: 25/54 FG; 5/19 3PT; 8/14 FT; 42 REB; 17 AST; 20 STL; 16 TO; 12 PF

NCHS PLAYER STATS: Scoring- Mattheus 19, Bruegger 16, Miller 10, Bieri 6, Brott 5, Kupke 5, Smith 4, Swisher 3, Rose 3. Rebounds- Bruegger 9, Mattheus 9, Brott 5. Assists- Bruegger 6, Mattheus 5. Steals- Mattheus 7.