The LFL Doggers snagged their 11th and 12th victories in games against conference rivals.
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YODER – The Lingle-Fort Laramie (LFL) Doggers basketball team maintained its undefeated record for the 2024-2025 season with back-to-back conference victories on the road over the weekend.
On Thursday, January 16, the Doggers squared off against the Southeast Cyclones in the first cross-county rivalry game with LFL posting the win by a 20-point margin, 47-27.
Boarding the bus for Lusk on Friday, the Doggers soundly defeated Niobrara County, 59-36.
“It was different having to go on the road this week, but our guys were up to the challenge,” coach Chris Cook said. “The boys were very focused in a short week of practice and this helped when the games arrived.”
Junior Brady Cook reached a huge high school basketball milestone during the January 17 game against Niobrara County when he scored his 1,000th career point. Cook needed 20 points coming into the game against Niobrara County and accomplished his goal while leading the Doggers in scoring with 21 points.
Cook continues to lead the state in all classifications for shooting inside the perimeter with a 75-percent field goal percentage (WyoPreps January 15).
Cross-county rivalry
The Doggers came out and outscored Southeast in a physical first quarter, 11-7. Cook netted five points while junior Anthony Arnusch contributed a close-range shot and pair of free throws and senior Brody Roberts scored on a fastbreak.
In the second quarter, the Doggers tossed in 13 points while a determined LFL defense held the Cyclones to four. Cook prevented Southeast from scoring with three blocks while Roberts and senior Ned Nelson both grabbed steals.
The halftime score favored the Doggers, 24-11.
LFL returned from the locker rooms to double the Cyclones in scoring in the third, 10-5. Roberts set the pace offensively with seven points, including an outside shot. Senior Elijah Hatch also drained a deep 3-pointer.
The Doggers outmaneuvered Southeast in the fourth quarter, 13-11, led by Roberts with nine points.
Roberts tallied 22 points against the Cyclones with Cook netting 13. Cook went double-double with 11 rebounds.
Arnusch contributed eight points, Hatch three with a free throw by senior Kaiden Riggs.
Roberts passed the ball for four assists and snatched four steals.
“We did not shoot the ball as well as we have (against Southeast), however, our team defense was really up to the task,” coach Cook said. “We only allowed 11 points in the first half against a good basketball team. It is always fun to play in the rivalry games when the gyms are packed and communities come out to root on the kids.”
Niobrara County
The Dogger offense hit the Tigers hard and fast in the opening quarter with LFL scoring 16 points while holding Niobrara County to four.
The Doggers doubled Niobrara County in scoring in the second quarter, 14-7, to establish a 30-11 halftime advantage.
The Tigers made the second half closer, but LFL remained ahead by a comfortable 20-point-plus margin, outscoring Niobrara County 29-25 in the third and fourth quarters.
Cook set the momentum for the Doggers in scoring against the Tigers with 21 points. Roberts also totaled double digits with 19 points. Arnusch tallied six points, Riggs five, Nelson four with two apiece by Hatch and senior Skyler Thomas.
Cook posted his second double-double for the weekend with 10 rebounds. Thomas and Nelson both pulled down five rebounds with Roberts recording four.
Roberts delivered six assists, Arnusch rustled four steals and Cook made four blocks.
“Once again, we only allowed 11 points in the first half (by our opponent) in a gym that is really hard to win in at Lusk,” coach Cook added. “Our guys continued to work hard on defense and take great pride in that. They also rebounded the ball well together as we had eight different guys with at least two rebounds.”
