CASPER – The 2024-2025 winter season closed with the Southeast Cyclones squaring off against 1A rivals Little Snake River (LSR) and Encampment at the state championships in Casper from Thursday to Friday, March 6-7.

The quarterfinals pitted Southeast against Little Snake River in a point-for-point battle on Thursday. The Cyclones led by one possession at halftime, 29-26. LSR ultimately pulled ahead with a nine-point run in the fourth quarter to post the win, 60-51.

On Saturday, Southeast fell in another close game to Encampment, 59-50.

While the season ended a day earlier than the Cyclones hoped, Southeast can look back on a solid winter season. Southeast clinched the No. 3 seed in the 1A Southeast conference with a 13-9 overall record, including six victories against SEWAC rivals.

The Cyclones defeated Guernsey twice, by a 52-21 margin on February 8 and 58-30 on February 18. Southeast dispatched Rock River by a 70-32 margin on December 20 before beating Hanna-Elk Mountain, 61-38, on December 21.

The Cyclones rallied at the 1A regional tournament in Upton to snag third place. Southeast cruised ahead of Hanna-Elk Mountain, 63-39, in the consolation semifinals and took down Niobrara County, 51-43, in the consolation finals to bag bronze.

Little Snake River

The first three quarters between Southeast and LSR came down to the wire with the lead changing a total of 12 times and the game tying on five occasions before the final buzzer.

The Cyclones controlled the scoreboard in the first half, winning the first quarter by one point, 15-14. Southeast maintained the pressure in the second quarter, netting 14 points while holding LSR to 12.

The halftime score favored the Cyclones, 29-26.

The back-and-forth continued in the third quarter. LSR pulled ahead by one point, 41-40, as the fourth quarter commenced.

A 19-11 run by the Rattlers in the final eight minutes of regulation sealed the win for LSR.

Three Cyclones tallied double-digit scoring against LSR, led by junior Beaux Shimic with 15 points. Senior Ayden Desmond collected 13 points with fellow senior Kannon Tippetts tossing in 10.

Senior Ayden Shimic contributed eight points and junior T.J. Moats five.

Desmond went double-double against LSR, pulling down an impressive 15 rebounds. Ayden Shimic tallied seven rebounds.

Beaux Shimic and Ayden Shimic both delivered two assists while Ayden Shimic wrangled three steals.

Encampment

Southeast hit the ground running in the first quarter against Encampment, outscoring the Tigers by several possessions, 13-9.

Encampment turned the tables in the second quarter with 17 points while holding Southeast to 11.

The game remained up in the air at halftime with Encampment up by a single possession, 26-24.

The Tigers widened their advantage to five points, 39-34, at the end of the third quarter and topped Southeast in a high-scoring fourth quarter, 20-16.

Desmond paced Southeast in scoring against Encampment with 18 points. Beaux Shimic also netted double digits at 10 points. Ayden Shimic and Moats both recorded eight points with six from Tippetts.

Southeast outrebounded Encampment, 33-26, led by Desmond with another double-double at 11 rebounds. Moats pulled down seven rebounds with five apiece by Ayden Shimic and junior Chase Sauer.

Ayden Shimic and Tippetts both passed the ball for three assists while Desmond grabbed two steals.