Laramie Basketball Loses All Four in Sheridan and Gillette

It was a rough road trip to start conference play last weekend for Laramie High School’s basketball teams, as they were swept in Sheridan and Gillette.

Both teams open 4A East Conference action at 0-2 with two more games later this week.

Laramie Lady Plainsmen

Poor shooting hurt Laramie in both losses on the road last weekend, but there were more factors, as well.

Laramie was out-scored 16-4 in the third quarter, and that proved to be the difference in a 57-40 loss at Sheridan last Friday night.

The Lady Plainsmen went on a 12-2 run in the fourth and closed within 48-40. The Broncs held the ball and pulled LHS out of their 3-2 zone defense. After they took time off the clock, Sheridan scored the final nine points.

Laramie shot 33 percent and was led by 13 points from Lexi Pulley and 10 from Jennifer Aadland.

Sheridan shot 49 percent in the game. They were led by Jordan Christensen with 14 points and 14 rebounds. They also had a 36-19 advantage in rebounding.

Lady Plainsmen head coach Laura Pollard said, “We just couldn’t hit the shots, but I had to get on them (the team) after the game because rebounding is just hustling, and I was a little upset about that.”

Saturday, turnovers were a major issue early, and the Gillette Camels jumped on Laramie in a 67-36 victory.

The Lady Plainsmen had 25 turnovers in the game, which included 18 in the first half. That led to easy baskets for the Camels, who led 24-9 after the first quarter and 42-17 by halftime.

Aadland led LHS with 19 points and 10 rebounds. As a team, they shot 26 percent from the field.

Gillette shot 58 percent in the game. They were led by Rylee Hladky with 20 points.

Coach Pollard was unavailable for comment after Saturday’s loss, as the team left Gillette early to beat the winter storm.

Laramie (5-9, 0-2) returns home Thursday at 5:30 p.m. versus Cheyenne South, and then they play at Thunder Basin at 6 p.m. Friday in Gillette.

Laramie Plainsmen

Sheridan came out as the aggressor and surged to a 71-36 win over the Plainsmen last Friday night.

The Broncs out-scored LHS 24-10 in the first quarter and pulled away as the game went on.

LHS head coach Travis Brown said what you saw was a contrast in team personnel.

“A team (Sheridan) that’s had a lot of chemistry; played together for the first month-and-a-half of the season. I think you’re seeing a team (us) that’s just starting to get some pieces back, and that chemistry’s just not there yet.”

Laramie shot 36.6 percent from the field and had only four players score. Hudda Herrera led the way with 14, while Frank Crum added 12.

Sheridan was led by Tristan Bower with 12 points. The Broncs shot 44 percent for the game. They also went 19-25, 76 percent, at the foul line.

The Plainsmen hung tough for three quarters in Gillette against the Camels, but lost 84-61.

It was a four-point game at halftime, 42-38, and Laramie drew within two points a couple times in the third. They could never tie it or take the lead.

Gillette pulled away in the fourth quarter, as they out-scored LHS 23-7.

Brown said they went away from what was working earlier in the game.

“Unfortunately decided to go away from the game-plan again for a quarter, and it kind of bit us. We really wish we could be a three-point shooting team. We just haven’t figured it out yet, that that’s not us.”

The Camels knocked down 16 three-pointers in the game. They shot 46 percent in the game. Trey Hladky led Gillette with 29 points and was one of four Camels in double figures.

Laramie was led by Asa Williams with 20 points, while Crum added 19. LHS held a 36-29 edge on the glass. The Plainsmen shot 3-15, 20 percent, from deep.

After the 0-2 start in league play, Brown pointed to a pivotal home game next on the schedule.

“You hate to say there’s a must win you feel like early in the season, but I feel like this Thursday’s against South is must win. I mean, unfortunately the last place team (in our conference) doesn’t make regionals this year… The last thing we want to do is give South a tie-breaker or an edge on us the way it’s set-up this year, so to me this is a must-win game in some ways.”

The Plainsmen host the Bison at 7 p.m. Thursday before another trip back to Gillette to face Thunder Basin Friday at 7:30 p.m.