LINGLE –  The Lingle-Fort Laramie (LFL) Lady Doggers scored five decisive points against the Southeast High School Lady Cyclones to win the conference rivalry game, 37-32, on Thursday January 30.

A point-for-point battle between the cross-county rivals commenced in the first half and reached a 14-14 stalemate late in the second quarter. A buzzer-beater outside shot by junior Skyla Wunder swung the scoreboard in LFL’s favor, 17-14, at halftime.

The back-and-forth continued in the third quarter with the Lady Doggers ultimately pulling up by five points, 29-24. LFL maintained the lead by two possessions through a physical fourth quarter to clinch the Lady Dogger’s seventh conference victory.

The win improved LFL’s conference record to 13-3 while the team retains the No. 1 in the 1A Southeast with an undefeated, 7-0 record.

On Saturday, LFL came up short against non-conference 2A opponent Pine Bluffs, 60-45.

"It was a disappointing loss against Pine," coach Susan Bartel said. "They are a good 2A team that we didn't play well against. We have some things to work on this week as we get ready for the rest of our 1A season."

Cross-county rivalry

A neck-and-neck first quarter ended in a 4-4 deadlock. Wunder and junior Avary Rising scored for the Lady Doggers while Wunder and junior Jordynn Speckner forced several turnovers with steals.

The Lady Doggers netted 13 points in the second quarter while holding Southeast to 10.

LFL’s defense set the tone early in the second with steals by Jordynn Speckner, Wunder, senior Brenly Shipp and sophomore Charlotte Speckner. 

Jordynn Speckner tossed in a pair of close-range shots before Southeast went on a six-point run to take the lead, 14-10.

Jordynn Speckner responded with an inside shot. Wunder snagged a steal and scored on a fastbreak, tying the game, 14-14.

LFL took control of the ball with less than two seconds remaining in the first half. With dead-eye accuracy, Wunder drained a trey for a 17-14 halftime lead.

The Lady Doggers widened their advantage to two possessions in the third quarter, collecting 12 points while the LFL defense held Southeast to 10. Five Lady Doggers contributed to the scoreboard in the third, with Wunder collecting four points, along with a bucket apiece by Charlotte Speckner, Shipp and Jordynn Speckner and two free throws from sophomore Afton Schilreff. On defense, Wunder and senior Addison Scott both scooped up steals.

The scoreboard favored the Lady Doggers, 29-24, at the beginning of the fourth quarter.

LFL maintained its two-possession lead through a physical fourth quarter that saw both teams toss in eight points. Wunder paced the Lady Dogger offense in the final eight minutes of regulation with five points. Jordynn Speckner scored from inside the perimeter and Schilreff tallied a free throw.

Wunder led LFL in scoring against Southeast with 17 points. Jordynn Speckner also hit double digits with 11 points. Schilreff contributed three points while Rising, Charlotte Speckner and Shipp each netted two.

On the boards, Charlotte Speckner and Shipp both pulled down five rebounds. Wunder rounded out the stat sheet with eight steals and two assists.

Pine Bluffs

The first quarter scoreboard favored Pine Bluffs, 19-7. LFL fought back in the second quarter, outmaneuvering the Lady Hornets, 20-12, and reducing Pine Bluffs’ lead to a single point, 31-27, at halftime.

Pine Bluffs pulled up in a third quarter that saw the Lady Hornets top LFL in scoring, 14-4. The Lady Doggers nearly matched the Lady Hornets in scoring in the fourth quarter with 15 points to 14 by Pine Bluffs.

Wunder paced LFL in scoring against the Lady Hornets with 15 points. Shipp tallied eight points, Rising seven, with four apiece by Jordynn Speckner, Charlotte Speckner and Schilreff and three from freshman Shaylyn Wunder.

Charlotte Speckner led on the boards with seven rebounds. Jordynn Speckner delivered two assists and snatched seven steals. Charlotte Speckner made one block.