We as coaches are proud of the effort our guys put in this past week. We had a tough schedule to play and to try to practice through productively. However, the guys embraced the challenge and were able to add three more wins against quality basketball clubs.”

Coach Chris Cook

Up Next

The Doggers host Niobrara County Friday at 7 p.m.

 LINGLE – Fans packed the Dogger Dome on Thursday, January 30 to watch the Lingle-Fort Laramie (LFL) Doggers defeat conference and cross-county rival Southeast, 65-53.

On Saturday, LFL defeated non-conference rival Pine Bluffs, 56-36, to punch in their 22nd consecutive home win at the Dogger Dome.

LFL’s victory against Southeast improved the Doggers’ conference record to 7-0 while the team remains undefeated on the season with a 16-0 overall record.

“We as coaches are proud of the effort our guys put in this past week,” coach Chris Cook said. “We had a tough schedule to play and to try to practice through productively. However, the guys embraced the challenge and were able to add three more wins against quality basketball clubs.”

Cross-county rivalry

The Cyclones opened Thursday’s game with a 13-4 run. 

Taking possession, LFL responded with a 10-1 run. Senior Ned Nelson and junior Anthony Arnusch both drained a trey. Senior Cooper Smith grabbed a steal and junior Brady Cook raced across the court and dunked the ball. 

Senior Brody Roberts scored on a fastbreak and the game reached a 14-14 deadlock at the end of the first quarter.

A back-and-forth fight for control of the scoreboard ensued in the second quarter. Cook opened with a close-range shot and LFL took the lead, 16-14.

Southeast tied the game at 16 before Roberts converted an and-1, placing the Doggers up, 19-16.

Southeast answered with a 4-point run to pull ahead, 20-19.

Nelson lined up for a deep 3-pointer and LFL found itself up, 22-20.

The game reached a stalemate again at 22. LFL replied with a 6-point run by Arnusch and Cook.

Southeast once again tied the game, 28-28, with 43 seconds remaining in the first half.

Arnusch snatched a steal and scored on a fastbreak. Roberts netted a free throw and LFL headed for the locker rooms ahead, 31-28.

The third quarter proved decisive for the Doggers with LFL outmaneuvering the Cyclones, 19-15. Senior Elijah Hatch paced LFL offensively in the third with seven points, opening with a five-point run and tossing in a pair of free throws. Roberts tallied four points while Arnusch and Nelson each scored from the outside.

LFL found itself ahead, 50-43, as the fourth quarter kicked off.

The Doggers collected 15 points in the fourth while holding Southeast to 10. Four LFL players scored points with five from Arnusch four apiece from Roberts and Cook and two from Hatch.

Arnusch led LFL in scoring against Southeast with 17 points. Roberts and Cook also contributed double digits with 16 and 14 points, respectively. Nelson and Hatch rounded out the scorebook with nine points apiece.

Cook pulled down seven rebounds. The team again shared the ball well with 20 assists, including six from Roberts and five by Arnusch. 

“We did not start sharp while Southeast did,” coach Cook said. “Coach (Craig) Leithead had his team ready to play and we were in for a battle. Once we gained some traction towards the end of the first quarter, our guys rallied from being down 13-7 with under a minute to play and take the lead. Two threes from Ned Nelson and Anthony Arnusch topped with a powerful dunk by Brady Cook helped finish the quarter with a flurry. We were proud of the guys’ ability to stay cool and climb their way back after being down early.”

Pine Bluffs

The Doggers hit the ground running to triple the Hornets in scoring in the first quarter, 15-5. LFL maintained its lead in the second to pull up, 28-17, at halftime.

The Doggers outscored the Hornets, 28-19, in the second half to seal the win.

Roberts led LFL in scoring against Pine Bluffs with 20 points. Cook tallied 12 points, Nelson eight, Thomas and Arnusch five, Smith four and Hatch two.

Cook went double-double against the Hornets with 13 rebounds. Cook also totaled four assists and four blocks.

“After a great practice on Friday morning, our guys were refocused and ready for the tough task Pine Bluffs always brings,” coach Cook said. “This time, we started very well and were quickly ahead, 15-5. Pine Bluffs made a couple runs but they were never able to get the lead back under 10 points for the rest of the game. Our guys played great defense and held them to 26 percent shooting for the game and we outrebounded them, 30-25. Skyler Thomas, Ned Nelson, Kaiden Riggs, Cooper Smith, Elijah Hatch and Anthony Arnusch all contributed greatly in the win with hard-nose defense, timely baskets and great passing.”