Laramie Faces Initial Road Test in Conference Play
Laramie heads on the road for the first time in conference play, as they take on the Central Indians in Cheyenne Wednesday night.
This doubleheader will mark the first time Laramie has played away from home since Dec. 30, 2016 in the Cabela’s Holiday Shootout. LHS was supposed to play in Cheyenne as part of the Taco John’s Invitational on Jan. 6, but those games were cancelled.
The third-ranked Lady Plainsmen have won six of their last seven. They enter at 11-3 overall and 2-1 in the 4A East Conference. Their opponent is Cheyenne Central, who is 8-7 on the season and 1-2 in league games. The Indians split their last action with a win at Sheridan, but a loss at No. 1 Gillette.
Lady Plainsmen head coach Laura Pollard said Central presents some different challenges.
“Offensively, they dribble drive, but a little more structured than maybe South. They’ve got some height. (Abby) Fearneyhough can go inside pretty good. They’ve got a little more of an inside game, which we haven’t seen much of yet, but I think we’ll be ready for it.”
Last year these two teams played a couple of tight games. Laramie won both. The first in Cheyenne by a six-point margin, and then the second in double overtime, 59-56.
This game is set to start at 6 p.m. from the Central Fieldhouse.
The Laramie Plainsmen just snapped a five-game losing streak with last Friday’s victory over Cheyenne South. Now they look for back-to-back wins for just the second time this season.
It’s a tough task for LHS, as they face the defending 4A State Champion Central Indians. LHS is 4-10 on the season and 1-2 in the conference. Central is also 1-2 in league play after losing at Sheridan and Gillette last weekend. The Indians are just 5-9 overall.
Laramie head coach Travis Brown said Central is a good ball club.
"They’ve also struggled a little bit here… They’re very athletic. They’re going to try to get some of those 1-on-1 isolations and take you off the dribble. I really like their big kid, (Jessen) Reckling.”
Reckling is the only starter the Indians return from last season's title team. These two teams split their meetings last year. The Plainsmen lost by 23 on the road last season, but upset then No. 1 Central in Laramie, 66-58.
Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Both games will be available live on KOWB (AM 1290). David Settle and VerDon Hoopes will provide the broadcast call.