Laramie Basketball Begins the Grind of League Play [VIDEOS]

The second half of the high school basketball season has arrived, as Laramie begins conference play with a road trip north Friday and Saturday.

Both Laramie High School teams will play at Sheridan Friday night and at Gillette against the Camels Saturday afternoon. The varsity game times for the girls-boys doubleheader are 5:30 and 7 p.m. against the Broncs. They are at 1 and 2:30 p.m. against the Camels.

Laramie Lady Plainsmen

Laramie (5-7) is coming of their best offensive performance of the season in last Saturday’s victory at Green River.

Sheridan (4-7) has won two of its last three games. The Broncs are veteran squad that return all five starters and eight letter winners from last season’s team. Sheridan is led by first-year head coach Larry Ligocki. Senior guard Alli Puuri leads the team at 9.9 points per game.

Saturday’s opposition is the No. 4 Gillette Camels (7-5). They will play Cheyenne South Friday before facing Laramie. The Camels were the 4A runners-up last season. They return three starters and five letter winners from that team. Gillette is led by junior Rylee Hladky (15.4 ppg) and senior Kierra Cutright (10.4 ppg). They are coached by Mitch Holst in his 18th season.

Lady Plainsmen head coach Laura Pollard visited with KOWB’s David Settle about the halfway point of the season, where her team’s at and the long road trip ahead.

Laramie swept Sheridan last year, but lost both to the Camels.

Laramie Plainsmen

Laramie (6-6) has struggled over the last stretch with losses in five of their last six games. They lost both on a road swing in Sweetwater County last weekend.

Sheridan (8-3) is ranked No. 2 in the latest Wyopreps.com Coaches and Media Poll. The Broncs split their last two last weekend with a loss to Billings Senior (MT) and a win over Natrona. They have three returning starters and six lettermen back. Head coach Jeff Martini is in his second year. Sheridan is led by senior Tristan Bower (15.7 ppg) and senior Aaron Woodward (11.4 ppg).

Gillette (7-4) is ranked No. 5 this week. The Camels will play Cheyenne South before taking on the Plainsmen. After a five-game winning streak, Gillette lost both their games last weekend against two schools from Rapid City, S.D. The Camels return two starters and four lettermen. They are guided by fifth-year head coach Bubba Hladky.

Plainsmen head coach Travis Brown took some time to chat with KOWB’s David Settle for a mid-season update. They discussed the status of the team, beginning conference action and the big road trip in front of them.

Both opponents swept Laramie last season.

KOWB (AM 1290) will broadcast all four games live on the radio, KOWB’s live stream or take the games mobile with the new KOWB app. David Settle and Ryan Puckett will broadcast the games. Coverage will start at 5 p.m. Friday and at 12:30 p.m. Saturday.