BURNS – The Southeast Cyclones boys basketball team built an insurmountable lead Saturday on the road against Burns and won 43-30, despite being outscored 14-2 in the final frame.

The Cyclones built a 15-5 lead after the first eight minutes of action, but Burns cut into that lead slightly, outscoring Southeast 10-8 in the second to go into intermission with the score at 23-15. The Cyclones had a stellar third quarter, putting up 18 points, while limiting the Broncs to one points in the frame to hold a 41-16 lead. Burns turned things around in the fourth, outscoring Southeast 14-2, but it was not enough to make up the difference.

“The Burns game we had a pretty good first, but relapsed in the second quarter,” coach Crockett Herring said. “We had another good quarter in the third and in the fourth we got a lot of younger guys in. We have to work on being more consistent.”

Kaden Malm was the top scorer for Southeast, pouring in 13 points, rounding out his stat line with three steals and four assists, both of which were team-highs. Hayden Anderson was not far behind in the scoring department with 12 points, an assist, two steals and a team-high eight assists.

Brady Fullmer had nine points, six rebounds and two steals, while Cade Herring chipped in another five points, two boards, two assists and a steal. Sterling Werner rounded out the scoring for Southeast with four points and adding seven rebounds and three assists for the Cyclones.

Sawyer Anderson and Brant Fullmer combined for five rebounds and a steal, while Bodie Herring kicked in another assist.

Southeast shot 36 percent from the field and only 22 percent from behind the arc, while limiting Burns to 24 percent from the floor and 21 percent from deep. The Cyclones outrebounded the Broncs 33-26.

“We told (the players) at the beginning of the year that if we are going to win, it’s going to be because we play good defense and we have been working on that all season,” Herring said.

Southeast 51, Lusk 34

Southeast hosted another 2A Southeast opponent Friday, besting Lusk. The Cyclones started the game with a 10-8 lead at the end of the first quarter. Lusk turned things around to tie the game at 18 at the break. Southeast put out a solid offensive performance in the second half, scoring 17 points in the third and 16 points in the fourth, while limiting the Tigers to six points in the third and 10 in the fourth.

Werner was the top scorer for Southeast, finishing the game with a double-double with 18 points, 13 boards, two assists and five steals. Brady Fullmer was the second Cyclone in double-digits, chipping in 12 points, six rebounds, two assists and the team’s only block.

Malm was the third-leading scorer, putting all three seniors at the top of the stat sheet, notching nine points, four rebounds, two assists and four steals.

Bodie Herring had five points, a board and three steals in the game, while Hayden Anderson accounted for three points, five rebounds, an assist and a steal. Sawyer Anderson and Cade Herring had two points apiece, combining for three rebounds and a steal. Brant Fullmer chipped in two rebounds, three assists and a steal.

“I don’t think we have all fired on all cylinders in a game. We go up and down,” Herring said. “Hopefully, our three seniors can contribute 12-14 points each and the rest of us need to contribute 6-8 points.”

Southeast knocked down 32 percent of their shots, but only seven percent from behind the arc (1-of-14). The Cyclones accounted for 35 points, with Lusk being limited to 28.

The Cyclones improved to 9-10 on the year, with a 5-1 record in the quadrant, putting them second in the standings.

“We needed those two victories to get us in a position to get second in the conference,” Herring said. “We have to continue to keep getting better.”

Southeast closes out its regular season this weekend, hosting Pine Bluffs on Friday at 6 p.m. and Glenrock on Saturday at 6 p.m.

“I just want to get better each game – then I’ll take my chances at the regional tournament,” Herring said. “My big thing is the next big game is the next game up.”