For the second straight week the Laramie Plainsmen got a road break-through in conference play with a 47-41 victory at Cheyenne South.

Laramie (9-4, 2-1) controlled the fourth quarter with their defense. They out-scored South 17-6 in the final period for their second road victory in the 4A East.

Plainsmen head coach Chuck Kern said a big key was their fourth quarter defense.

“The guys really locked down and finished off plays with rebounds… South is a good team, especially on their court. Man, this is a tough place to play”

Laramie built a 22-12 lead midway through the second quarter. South responded with an 11-0 run to end the half and take a 23-22 lead. The battle continued in the second half, and the Bison held a 35-30 lead going into the final quarter.

The Plainsmen tied the game at 35, after they scored the first five points. Laramie kept attacking and got to the line, where they made 13 free throws in the final quarter. Four of those by Jake Aadland in the final ten seconds sealed the win.

Andy Pearson scored a career-high 19 points, while Tristan Eickbush added 12 points and 11 rebounds. They stepped up, along with others, to compensate for Aadland, Laramie’s leading scorer, being limited due to sickness.

Kern added, “We wanted to keep it in the forties, and we did a good job of that… we had to mentally re-focus, and I thought the guys did a good job of that coming out of halftime… really just encouraged the guys to stay the course and things will go our way. Thankfully they did in the fourth quarter. I was really proud of them.”

LHS shot only 32 percent from the field, but had a 34-18 edge on the glass. That included 15 offensive rebounds. They went 18-26 at the stripe.

South (7-7, 0-3) was led by Michael DeBruyn with 19 points. The Bison were only 2-6 at the free throw line.

The Plainsmen will begin a stretch of five consecutive home games next Thursday, February 5, when they host Cheyenne Central. The game is set for a 7 p.m. start.

More From KOWB 1290