Laramie Sweeps Rival Central

In a rivalry match-up, you can always expect a battle. That's what both Laramie High School basketball teams got Friday night at the LHS gym. Thanks to strong performances in the second half by both teams, Laramie beat Central in a girls-boys doubleheader. The 5th-ranked Laramie Lady Plainsmen opened with a 64-52 win, while the 2nd-ranked Laramie Plainsmen took the nightcap 57-43.

The Laramie girls (12-4, 2-2) evened their record in the conference with the 12-point victory over the Cheyenne Central Lady Indians. After a solid start by the Lady Plainsmen, they got up on the Lady Indians 25-16 at the half. Central cut Laramie's lead down to four points in the third quarter, but the Lady Plainsmen never relinquished control and kept in attack mode all the way to the end. They hit 13 3-point field goals in the game.

Laramie head coach Rod Tyson said, "I thought they played a little more relaxed today. Those first two games at home, we didn't play relaxed, it was like we were real tight. So, they at least were loose. I don't think we did a very good job defensively, but when shots are falling it always makes us a lot better.

Katie Kuhn led Laramie with a career-high 26 points, which included five 3-pointers. Madison Legerski followed with 13 points, and Jacqui Pulley had 12 points. LHS was 22-52 (42 percent) from the field. They went 13-34 (38%) from deep.

Kuhn said, "We definitely had dry spell in the middle, but coach said if you're feeling it, just to shoot it. He told us our biggest thing is to not stop shooting it."

Central (9-8, 0-4) was led by Emily Evans, who also had a career-high with 20 points. Sierra Kuno added 17 points and 13 rebounds.

The Plainsmen (13-3, 3-1) put together a big defensive effort in the second half and pulled away for their 14-point win over the Indians. Laramie trailed after the first quarter 15-14 and was tied at halftime 30-30. That's when LHS shutdown Central and them to 13 total points in the second half.

Laramie head coach Chuck Kern said, "Halftime couldn't get there soon enough. They (Central) were playing perfect. What a credit to Coach Doug (Moratzka), and the way he had his guys prepared." Kern also said at halftime, I just basically looked at my seniors and said, "You can do better. Your team, you got us here. You put us in a very strong position. If you want this, you're gonna have to win this on the defensive end."

Tyler Loose led the Plainsmen with his second consecutive 20-point game. Sam Hainline followed with 14 points and Sam Feldman had 13 points. Laramie shot 49 percent on field goals (20-41) and went 16-21 (76%) from the foul line.

Loose said, "It was a big win and a very tough win. Central's a very tough team, so (managers) Joel (Moline), Sheldon (Clark) and the rest of our jv team really got us ready for a pretty tough game all the way around."

For the Indians, Greg Ashley led the way with 11 points. Central (5-9, 0-4) shot 48 percent (15-31) from the field, but after 65 percent in the first half, LHS held the Indians to 29 percent in the second half.

The first half of conference play ends for Laramie on Saturday against Cheyenne East. The Lady Plainsmen tip-off at 11:45 a.m. against the #2 East Lady Thunderbirds, while the Plainsmen game is set for a 1:30 p.m. tip-off.

Saturday's broadcast is Internet only. You can listen via www.network1sports.com/station/kowbnet. David Settle and VerDon Hoopes will call all the action beginning around 11:15 a.m.