Laramie High School Basketball a Combined 5-1 After McDonald’s Classic

Another big second half defensive performance by the Laramie Plainsmen has helped them to a 3-0 start on the season, as they defeated defending 4A State Champion and the 3rd-ranked Evanston Red Devils 48-39 Saturday in Cheyenne at the McDonald's Classic high school basketball tournament. Defense was also key in the Laramie Lady Plainsmen second straight victory, as they beat Rock Springs 58-46.

The Laramie boys trailed 20-12 early in the second quarter before 14-3 run to close the first half gave them a 26-23 lead at the break. LHS controlled the game the rest of the way. The defense took over again, as they allowed the Red Devils only 16 points the entire second half. After both teams scored seven points in the third period, the Plainsmen built the lead to 11 thanks to seven straight points to open the fourth quarter. Evanston made a late run and pulled within five points, at 44-39, but that was with less than a minute left. Laramie closed out the nine point win with the final four points, 48-39.

Three Plainsmen scored in double figures led by Senior Sam Hainline with 16 points. Seniors Dominick Villarreal and Sam Feldman both added 11 points apiece. Laramie out-shot the Red Devils 48 percent to 43 percent from the field.

Laramie Coach Chuck Kern said of the 3-0 start, "I'm excited for the kids. The kids earned everything. They really bought in the last couple of weeks and worked so hard in practice. (Asst.) Coach (Bruce) Schmidt and I, we don't have to motivate. They really want to get better."

The Laramie Lady Plainsmen (2-1) forced 36 Rock Springs Lady Tiger turnovers en route to a 58-46 victory. LHS led from start to finish. After they built a 20-9 lead in the first quarter, Rock Springs came alive with a 13-3 run and closed within 23-22. The Laramie girls responded with five quick points on a 3-pointer from Sophomore Ariel Romero and a jumper by Senior Jamie Rhodine. The Lady Plainsmen led 28-24 at half. They dominated the third quarter and out-scored Rock Springs 16-5 in that frame. The lead ballooned to 21 points at one time in the fourth quarter before the Lady Tigers closed the gap when it didn't matter.

Senior Katie Kuhn hit four 3's and led the way with 16 points. Junior Caitlin Hensley and Senior Madison Legerski added 12 and 10 points, respectively.

After back-to-back wins, Lady Plainsmen Head Coach Rod Tyson said, "I think if we were given a grade, we're probably a B+, as opposed to what I thought we'd be, which was about a C. I really think the girls are a little better than I thought they were. There's a lot of things to work on, of course, but I think we're ahead of where I thought we would be, so that's a good sign."

Both Laramie teams return to action with only one game next week. It's a girls-boys doubleheader at Natrona County in Casper on Friday, December 7th.