TORRINGTON – The Southeast Cyclones completed the season sweep of cross-county rival Lingle-Fort Laramie on Thursday in Torrington.
The Cyclones got the best of the Doggers for the second time this season, 47-36.
“They played a very physical, aggressive defense, and many times, we let that get into our heads,” L-FL coach Steve Zimmerman said.
As a result, the Dogger offense struggled.
“We paid the price for it,” Zimmerman said. “That was the game in a nutshell.”
Southeast jumped out to a 6-2 advantage.
“We played better offensively. Lingle is just so big,” Cyclone coach Crockett Herring said. “I lied about the heights of our kids. We have 5-11 across the top. We were kind of standing around early, but we made enough shots to get ahead.”
L-FL battled back to take a 15-11 lead courtesy of scores from junior Bailey Powell and senior Scott Gilchriest.
However, Southeast turned to a full-court press, aiding a 13-0 run to end the first half.
“It did, and that’s what kind of sparked us. We got a few more turnovers and that seems to lead us to better offense,” Crockett said. “They had to start extending, and we started to attack it when we had the right opportunities, getting easy shots.”
When the Cyclones regained the lead in the final minutes of the first half, their lead continued to grow throughout the second half.
As the game wore on, L-FL battled foul trouble.
“Them getting into foul trouble was big. When Caeden (Riley) had to sit out for a quarter and a half or better, it makes a big difference for them,” Crockett said. “I’m thankful for the win, and maybe we can go to Moorcroft and get on a two-game winning streak.”
Southeast was led in scoring by sophomore Hayden Anderson with 16, while sophomore Bodie Herring added 11. The Doggers had four players score eight points each, including sophomore Cordell Forkner, junior Caeden Riley, Gilchriest and senior Ty Mueller.
The next day, L-FL led all but one possession in a 54-47 road win over Niobrara County High School.
The Tigers grabbed their only lead in the early seconds of the fourth quarter, 39-38. The Doggers responded to a 10-0 run with a pull away for the seven-point win.
“It was more internal fortitude than anything,” Zimmerman said.
Mueller led the Doggers with 19 points, while Riley added 14. Sophomore Cooper Hill tossed in 10.
“We made a little change defensively and Cooper Hill – all 5-foot, 5-inch of him – took on their 6-4 kid with that, and he did a heck of a job with that,” Zimmerman said. “I thought our bench last night and tonight played well.”
Meanwhile, Southeast picked up their second-straight victory with a 63-36 win over the Moorcroft Wolves.
Hayden Anderson led the team with 17 points, while Cade Herring added 15 and Bodie Herring 10.
