Sweet Sweep for Laramie over Cheyenne South

It was a breakthrough in many ways for both Laramie High School basketball teams on Friday night. Both won a game at home for the first time this season, while the Plainsmen finally got their first conference win this year.

Last night, the Laramie Lady Plainsmen had a strong fourth quarter and pulled away for a 52-45 victory over the Cheyenne South Lady Bison. Laramie scored 20 points in the final period for an important second win in the 4A East Conference this season. They were aided by solid free throw shooting. LHS knocked down 18-of-24 free throws in the second half.

Junior Ariel Romero scored a career-high 13 points to lead three Lady Plainsmen in double figures. Jacqui Pulled added 12 points, and Caitlan Hensley chipped in 11. Romero also grabbed six rebounds.

Laramie jumped out to a 10-2 lead in the first quarter, but only led 19-18 at half. A 7-2 run to start the fourth gave the Lady Plainsmen their biggest lead of the game, at 39-30. They closed the game out with several big free throws.

The Laramie Lady Plainsmen are now 9-12 overall and 2-6 in the conference.

Dani Noble led Cheyenne South with a game-high 24 points. The Lady Bison fell to 5-16 this season and 1-7 in the 4A East.

Game two of the doubleheader saw the Laramie Plainsmen also play well in the final period, as they snapped a seven-game losing streak and beat the Cheyenne South Bison 63-49.

A career-high 25 points for sophomore Jake Aadland was one of the keys to victory. Aadland went 7-10 shooting, which included four 3-pointers. Laramie also shot 50 percent from the floor and held the Bison to 33 percent.

Neither team led by more than five points through the first three quarters of action. Then the Plainsmen built a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter, and South wasn't able to rally. Laramie out-scored the Bison 23-14 in the final period.

Drew Burman added 17 points and nine rebounds, as Laramie improved to 4-17 on the season and 1-7 in conference play.

Kyhler Cummings and Michael DeBruyn each scored 19 points for South. The Bison dropped to 6-15 this season and are 2-6 in league action.

In their next game, both the Laramie Lady Plainsmen and Laramie Plainsmen are on the road next Thursday, February 27 at Cheyenne East.