The LFL Doggers captured their 13th season win against Guernsey to remain undefeated.
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LINGLE – The Lingle-Fort Laramie Doggers controlled the home court from the opening minute of the conference game against Guernsey to the final buzzer on January 24, snagging the team’s 13th season win by a 75-4 margin.
An explosive Dogger offense combined with an ironclad LFL defense to establish a 47-2 halftime lead, prompting the running clock. The Doggers outpaced the Vikings, 28-2, in the second half to seal the team’s 19th consecutive home victory.
“All our guys were ready to take their turn at continuing to play great defense, including our younger guys that saw some varsity time” coach Chris Cook said. “In the game, we only allowed (Guernsey) to shoot eight percent. Guernsey tried to limit touches by (junior) Brady Cook and (senior) Brody Roberts on the ball. Consequently, this left more opportunities for our shooters outside. The guys stepped up and shot the ball very well from beyond the arc.”
The Doggers are currently leading the state for all classifications in offensive and defensive stats. LFL is No. 1 in Wyoming for team shooting with a field goal ratio of 55.2 percent. The Doggers also lead the state in team defense, holding their opponents to 28.2 points per game (WyoPreps Jan. 22).
“We are very proud of that,” coach Cook added.
Four powerful quarters
LFL won the first quarter by a resounding 18-2 margin. Junior Anthony Arnusch set the momentum on offense, netting a buzzer-beating 3-pointer and scoring on three fastbreaks.
Cook tossed in a close-range shot and slam dunked the ball while senior Elijah Hatch drained a 3-pointer and Roberts scored on a fastbreak. Defensively, LFL hounded the Vikings in the first quarter with steals by Roberts, Cook, Arnusch and Hatch.
The Doggers stepped up the pressure in an exceptional second quarter that saw LFL toss in 29 points while a tenacious Dogger defense shut out Guernsey.
Cook opened the quarter with a slam dunk and went on to tally six points. Arnusch and Hatch accurately scored from beyond the perimeter with three and two outside shots, respectively. Roberts, senior Cooper Smith and senior Ned Nelson rounded out scoring with close-range shots.
On defense, senior Skyler Thomas, Arnusch, Roberts, senior Kaiden Riggs and Hatch grabbed multiple steals while Roberts reached up for a block.
LFL led at halftime, 47-2.
LFL topped Guernsey in scoring in the third quarter, 18-2. Cook led with six points while Thomas went on a four-point run. Arnusch and Nelson both scored 3-pointers.
The Doggers tallied 10 points in the fourth quarter while shutting out Guernsey on defense. Hatch and sophomore Mason Unverzagt both drained 3-pointers with Riggs and Smith contributing close-range shots. Freshman Lincoln Speckner picked up one steal and pulled down five rebounds.
Overall, Arnusch led the Doggers in scoring with 21 points, shooting 5-for-7 from the outside. Cook and Hatch both contributed 16 points. Cook posted an 89-percent field goal percentage (8-for-9) and Hatch went 4-for-8 from the outside. Nelson tallied five points with four apiece by Roberts, Smith and Thomas.
Cook led on the boards with six rebounds while Roberts, Smith and Speckner pulled down five.
Roberts snagged five steals with four apiece by Hatch and Arnusch. Roberts also posted a career high of three blocks.
LFL totaled 26 assists
“We had nine different guys with at least one assist,” coach Cook said. “Skyler Thomas continued his great vision with nice passing and a career high of eight assists.”