Laramie Plainsmen Play for a Basketball State Championship

After two terrific performances to start the state tournament, the Laramie Plainsmen will play for the Class 4A boys’ basketball state championship on Saturday in Casper.

Laramie will face rival Cheyenne East for the fourth time this season. The game is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. from the Ford Wyoming Center.

The Plainsmen opened with a 67-54 victory over Riverton on Thursday night at Natrona County High School. Sophomore Neil Summers had career-highs of 22 points and 19 rebounds in the victory. Karson Busch scored 12 points, while Max Alexander added 10 points.

Laramie held a two-point lead after the first quarter and outscored Riverton 19-6 for a 35-20 lead at halftime. The Wolverines made a charge in the second half and trimmed the deficit to four in the fourth quarter. Free throws by Summers, Jaden Smith, and Levi Brown stretched it back to nine points.

The Plainsmen shot 43 percent and held Riverton to 35 percent. LHS was also 20-29 at the charity stripe.

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In the semifinals, Laramie caught fire in the first half and blew out the Cody Broncs, 67-44.

Brown matched his career-high with 23 points, while Alexander scored 17 points, and Busch added 11.

The Plainsmen scorched the nets on 10-of-13 shooting from 3-point range in the first half. That was 77 percent from deep. Down 7-3, LHS used a 13-0 run and took the lead for good. It was 19-9 after the first quarter and 42-26 at halftime. The Broncs pulled within 11 early in the second half, but that was as close as Laramie would allow Cody to get. The Plainsmen shot 58 percent for the game and 65 percent from deep. They held the Broncs to 34 percent from the field and just 2-14 beyond the arc.

Laramie will play for their first 4A boys’ state championship since 2011.

They will face the East Thunderbirds, who have won the three previous meetings this season. East won both regular season conference games, and last weekend’s game in the semifinals of the regional tournament in Casper.

Tonight’s game will be the first meeting between the two schools for a state championship.

KOWB Radio will broadcast the game live. David Settle will call the action. You can listen live on the radio at AM 1290, on the KOWB mobile app, online, and through smart speakers. Coverage is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m.