Big Horn is a good, physical team but we did a nice job taking care of the ball. We had a nice lead going into halftime and got things worked out.”

Coach Craig Leithead

Up Next

The Cyclones host Pine Bluffs Friday at 7 p.m.

YODER – The Southeast High School Cyclones gained momentum with back-to-back victories at home and on the road against rivals Big Horn and Guernsey-Sunrise.

On Friday, February 7, the Cyclones hosted the Big Horn Rams and scored a decisive 41-38 win against a challenging 2A opponent. The second half of the game came down to the wire as Big Horn attempted to overturn Southeast’s 10-point halftime lead. A solid Cyclones offense and gritty Southeast defense kept it together in the fourth quarter to triumph over the Rams.

Boarding the bus to play conference rival Guernsey on Saturday, the Cyclones rallied from a first-quarter deficit to dominate the second half and cruise past Guernsey, 52-21, at the final buzzer.

Southeast’s double wins improved the Cyclones’ overall record to 12-7 and Southeast is currently No. 3 in the 1A Southeast Conference.

“Big Horn is a good, physical team but we did a nice job taking care of the ball,” coach Craig Leithead said. “We had a nice lead going into halftime and got things worked out. Guernsey is always a tough battle and the Vikings started out ready to play. We made it through the first half and got stuff taken care of in the second half. We really look forward to playing SEWAC opponents Niobrara County and Pine Bluffs (at home) this weekend.”

Big Horn

A physical first quarter between Southeast and Big Horn ended with the Rams ahead by one point, 6-5. 

Juniors T.J. Moats and Beaux Shimic each netted a bucket in the first while senior Ayden Desmond scored from the charity stripe. Moats and seniors Ayden Shimic and Kannon Tippetts forced several turnovers with steals.

The Cyclones surged ahead in a powerful second quarter that saw Southeast nearly triple Big Horn in scoring, 17-6. 

Tippetts commenced the second quarter with a steal and went on to drain a trey, placing Southeast ahead, 8-6.

Big Horn tied the game at eight before the Cyclones regained the lead, 10-8, following a pair of free throws by Moats.

The game reached another deadlock at 10 points. Tippetts swept in to grab a steal on Big Horn’s subsequent possession and scored from the inside.

Moats reached up for a block and Desmond went on a five-point run. Moats followed up with an inside shot. Tippetts wrangled another steal. With less than one second remaining in the first half, Desmond launched a shot from near half court to place Southeast ahead by 10 points, 22-12, at halftime.

The Cyclones remained up by nine points, 30-21, at the end of the third quarter with buckets by Desmond, Beaux Shimic and Moats.

Big Horn pulled up early in the fourth quarter to close Southeast’s lead to two possessions, 31-27. Junior Liam Haas responded with a close range shot to place the Cyclones up again by six, 33-27.

Big Horn went on a second run to overtake Southeast and with 1:09 remaining in regulation, the Rams whittled the Cyclones’ lead down to a single possession, 38-36.

Desmond pulled down a defensive rebound on Big Horn’s ensuing possession. Ayden Shimic went 2-for-2 at the free-throw line and went on to pick up a steal on Big Horn’s following possession while Tippetts tossed in a free throw.

Desmond led the Cyclones in scoring against Big Horn with 16 points. Moats contributed 10 points, Tippetts six, Beaux Shimic four, Haas three and Ayden Shimic two.

Desmond posted a double-double with 11 rebounds. The senior also delivered three assists. Tippetts snatched five steals and Moats made five blocks.

Guernsey

A neck-and-neck first quarter between Southeast and Guernsey resulted in the Vikings leading by one point, 10-9.

Battling back in the second quarter, an explosive Cyclones offense netted 13 points while an ironclad Southeast defense completely shut out the Vikings.

The scoreboard swung in Southeast’s favor, 22-10, at halftime.

The Cyclones outmaneuvered Guernsey in the third quarter, 18-2, expanding their advantage to 28 points, 40-12, as the final quarter commenced.

Another 12 points by Southeast in the fourth quarter sealed the win for the Cyclones.

Nine Southeast players contributed to the final points spread. Moats netted 10 points, junior Spencer Booth nine, Beaux Shimic eight, Tippetts eight, Desmond seven and freshman Cole Tregemba five. Haas and senior Drew Boche each tossed in a bucket while Ayden Shimic contributed a free throw.

Tippetts led on the boards, pulling down six rebounds. Ayden Shimic passed the ball for three assists while Desmond rustled five steals and posted two blocks.