A new high school basketball season is here, and for the Laramie Lady Plainsmen they start over yet again.

For the second straight year, Laramie had a new head coach. Terrance Reese was hired in the off-season after Nick Darling stepped away following one year with the program.

The Lady Plainsmen went 7-12 last season. They went 1-5 in conference games. LHS did not qualify for the state tournament, as they lost to eventual state champion Cheyenne East in the sub-regional game in Cheyenne.

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Reese said practices have been going great leading into the season.

“The girls just have a great spirit about them. They come every day ready to work, so that makes it a lot easier for me, for sure. We can just work on X’s and O’s. You don’t have to coach the hard work or effort aspect of it, so that’s been something that’s been exciting to deal with.”

Reese added that the “buy-in” from his team has been there, as well.

“We’re becoming a team, and I think that’s something that’s important for our community, for the culture of our team, is to become a team. That’s been the main focus, coming together and playing together.”

Seniors Morgann Jensen and Teagan Bluemel talked with KOWB’s David Settle about the upcoming season and some fun items around the basketball season.

Jensen and Bluemel are two of the six returning letter winners from last season’s team. There are three starters back, and two more players that have starting experience.

Reese expects to lean on his veterans because he says they want to compete.

“We want to get up and down (the court). We’re going to get after teams, and we’re going to make it a dog fight. We want to make sure they (our opponents) remember playing Laramie.”

LHS opens its season at the Oil City Tip-off in Casper. The Lady Plainsmen will play at Natrona County against the No. 4 Fillies on Thursday at 6 p.m. That’s followed by a game against Green River on Friday at 3 p.m. at NCHS. Then on Saturday, Laramie will face Rock Springs at 10:30 a.m. at Kelly Walsh High School.

Reese expects pressure from all three of their opponents this weekend.

“They like to pressure the ball, so it’s going to be on us to take care of the ball; value possession of the basketball.”

He feels breaking the press will be key, and then executing in the half-court.

Reese wants to see his squad compete to start this season.

“That’s the big thing at the end of the day. That’s what we’ve been stressing is competing. Not just physically, but also playing a smart game, as well. Taking care of the basketball, but also being the first person on the floor for the basketball. It’s more than just being 1,000 percent, going crazy. It’s about making smart decisions with the basketball. It’s about taking care of the basketball. It’s about rebounding the basketball. All those little things, that’s what competing is to us, so we feel like if we do those things, the scoreboard will take care of itself.”

Laramie is out to reverse a trend of missing the state tournament over the last four years.

KOWB will broadcast all the Laramie girls’ games from Casper live on the radio (AM 1290) and on KOWB Mobile (app). You can also listen online or through smart speakers. Coverage starts 30 minutes prior to the game times. David Settle is back for his 23rd season as the voice of LHS basketball on KOWB.

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