The guys are playing at a high level together, especially defensively, allowing their opponents 30.8-percent shooting and 28.9 points per game. They look to share the ball in a way that can’t be taught. They care for each other enough to give up a good shot to get a great shot nearly every possession. As a team, the guys are shooting over 58 percent and scoring 68.4 points per game.”

Coach Chris Cook

LINGLE – An exceptional weekend for the Lingle-Fort Laramie (LFL) Doggers basketball team culminated in an undefeated record at the Goshen County Basketball Classic the Doggers hosted with Southeast from December 20-21.

LFL defeated each of its four opponents by more than 40 points.

The first quarter of the opening game between LFL and Hanna-Elk Mountain (HEM) on Friday morning defined the tournament for the Doggers with LFL establishing a 37-7 lead in the first eight minutes of regulation. The Doggers went on to defeat HEM, 84-33.

Up next, the Doggers beat Kaycee by nearly 50 points, 68-19.

Squaring off against Encampment on Saturday morning, LFL trounced the Tigers, 77-32.

Topping the tournament off with another big win, the Doggers took down Rock River, 72-17.

“It was great to get to play in the Dogger Dome for the first time this season,” coach Chris Cook said. “The guys are playing at a high level together, especially defensively, allowing their opponents 30.8-percent shooting and 28.9 points per game. They look to share the ball in a way that can’t be taught. They care for each other enough to give up a good shot to get a great shot nearly every possession. As a team, the guys are shooting over 58 percent and scoring 68.4 points per game.”

Senior Brody Roberts scored his 1,000th career point in the first quarter of the game against HEM on Friday morning.

“It was a great experience for us to see that happen at home,” coach Cook added.

HEM

The Doggers left no doubt who was in charge of the court in the first quarter against HEM, outscoring the Miners by 30 points, 37-7.

LFL maintained the momentum into the second quarter, topping HEM in points, 21-9.

The Doggers led by more than 40 points by halftime, 58-16.

LFL netted another 26 points in the second half while holding HEM to 17.

Junior Brady Cook led the Doggers in scoring with 22 points, shooting at 92 percent from the field.

Roberts and senior Ned Nelson both tallied 18 points. Nelson shot 8-for-10 overall.

Junior Anthony Arnusch contributed 12 points, senior Cooper Smith five with three each by sophomore Mason Unverzagt, senior Skyler Thomas and freshman Avery White.

Cook led on the boards with seven rebounds. Roberts shared the ball for 10 assists. Cook rounded out the stat sheet with six steals and three blocks.

“We started off against HEM right where we left off – hot,” coach Cook said. “The guys shot 15-17 (inside) and 2-4 (outside) in the first quarter – 81 percent.”

Kaycee

LFL won the first quarter against Kaycee, 18-7. The Doggers outmaneuvered Kaycee, 23-4, in the second quarter to establish a 41-11 halftime lead.

The Doggers hammered away at Kaycee in the second half, netting 27 points while holding Kaycee to eight.

Roberts set the pace for LFL in scoring with 22 points. Cook tossed in 14 points, Nelson 13, Arnusch and Thomas both seven and Cooper Smith five.

Roberts, Nelson and Cook each tallied five rebounds. Nelson delivered six assists and Thomas snatched five steals. 

“The defensive pressure by our guys was fantastic,” Cook said of the game. “This has helped create many opportunities for our guys going out in transition ending in many fast breaks and several dunks by Brady and Brody.”

Encampment

A fast and furious Dogger offense scored 46 points in the first half of the game against Encampment while a tenacious LFL defense held the Tigers to 18.

LFL won the third quarter, 20-12. In the final eight minutes of regulation, the Doggers tallied 11 points while nearly shutting out Encampment.

In the course of the game, the Doggers broke the LFL school record for shooting percentage in a single game – 69.23 overall. The old record stook at 64 percent.

“This was a producet of great team play by our guys on both the defensive and offensive ends,” coach Cook noted.

Four Doggers scored double digits against Encampment – Roberts 25, Cook 19 and Nelson and Arnusch both 11. Cooper Smith contributed six points, Unverzagt three and Thomas two.

On the boards, Cook went double-double with 10 rebounds. Thomas delivered eight assists while Cook and Roberts both picked up five steals. Cook posted three blocks.

“Encampment is a very athletic and tough team with some really quick guards, so we knew we needed to be ready from the tip,” coach Cook said. “We jumped out to a 14-0 lead, but Encampment started coming back and got into 22-15 (of overtaking us) in the second quarter. The guys focused a little better in the second quarter and by halftime it was 46-18. It was a great all-around game for our guys.”

Rock River

LFL led, 37-7, following an explosive first half. LFL controlled the scoreboard through the third quarter, netting 19 points to eight by the Longhorns. The Doggers’ second string entered the game in the fourth quarter to finish the job, outpacing Rock River, 16-2.

Roberts and Arnusch both tallied double-digit points against Rock River, led by Roberts with 24 and Arnusch 22. Arnusch shot 80 percent from the field.

Cook tallied eight points, Nelson seven, Cooper Smith three with two by Unverzagt, freshman Matthew Cook and sophomore Tyler Smith.

Thomas shared the ball for six assists. Roberts snatched four steals and Cook made seven blocks.

“This was another dominant defensive effort from the tip,” coach Cook said. “We were able to mix up the lineups more and had nine different guys score for our team.”