BURNS – The Southeast High School Cyclones kicked off the 2024-2025 winter season with a 3-1 record at the annual Burns Winter Classic tournament from December 13-14.

Opening the tournament on a high note, the Cyclones overwhelmed Moorcroft, 58-28, on Friday morning. On Friday evening, the Cyclones won a physical battle against Tongue River, 43-34.

The third game on Saturday pitted Southeast against Cheyenne South with both teams battling through four neck-and-neck quarters. The Cyclones pulled ahead by a single possession in the final seconds of regulation to win, 39-37.

Southeast fell in another game that came down to the wire against Burns on Saturday evening. The game reached a 44-44 deadlock at the end of regulation before Burns won in overtime, 54-46.

Moorcroft

The Cyclones opened the first quarter with a 10-point run, including buckets by senior Ayden Desmond, junior T.J. Moats, senior Ayden Shimic and junior Liam Haas.

Moorcroft found its footing midway into the first quarter, but Southeast remained up, 14-11, as the second quarter began.

The Cyclones dominated the second quarter, outscoring Moorcroft, 19-6, including 17 points by Desmond. Southeast led, 33-17, at halftime.

Southeast returned to the court to net 12 points in the third quarter while holding Moorcroft to seven. Junior Spencer Booth drained an outside shot and the Cyclones found themselves ahead, 45-24, at the end of the third.

The Cyclones’ second string entered the fray in the fourth quarter, including five points by senior Sebastian Brumley.

Desmond led Southeast in scoring against Moorcroft with 26 points. Moats and Shimic each tallied eight points, Brumley and Booth each five, junior Chase Sauer four and Haas two.

On the boards, Moats pulled down 11 rebounds. Sauer and Haas each totaled five rebounds with four each by Shimic, Desmond and Brumley.

Haas and Desmond both shared the ball for three assists. 

Defensively, Desmond grabbed seven steals and Moats and Desmond both blocked three attempted shots.

Tongue River

Southeast led Tongue River by one possession, 10-8, at the end of the first quarter. The Cyclones outpaced Tongue River by one possession, 14-12, in the second quarter to establish a two-possession lead at halftime, 24-20.

The Cyclones controlled the scoreboard in the third quarter and Southeast entered the fourth quarter ahead, 35-24.

Tongue River managed to win the fourth quarter by a single possession, 10-8, but the effort was too little, too late to close the gap.

Desmond led the Cyclones in scoring against Tongue River with 20 points. Moats collected 11 points with six apiece by Shimic and Sauer.

Sauer tallied eight rebounds, Moats six and Haas and Desmond both three. Desmond passed the ball for three assists. 

On defense, Desmond grabbed three steals and Moats posted two blocks.

Cheyenne South

Southeast won the first quarter against the Cheyenne South Bison, 14-7. The Bison responded in the second quarter to outmaneuver the Cyclones, 12-5, placing Cheyenne East up by a single point, 20-19, at halftime.

Southeast regained the lead in the third quarter by one, 29-28.

The lead switched back and fourth in a neck-and-neck fourth quarter. Southeast found itself up, 37-34, with an inside shot by freshman Cole Tregemba. An outside shot by the Bison tied the game at 37. Desmond snatched a steal with 5.3 seconds remaining on the clock. Moats took the ball and netted a jumper to beat the buzzer and secure Southeast’s win.

Moats set the pace offensively for the Cyclones with 13 points. Desmond contributed nine points, Sauer eight and Tregemba two.

Moats led on the boards with eight rebounds. Desmond pulled down six rebounds, Haas three and Shimic two.

Maots filled out the scoreboard with four blocks, three assists and two steals.