Lady Plainsmen Sweep Through Tournament in Riverton

It was a perfect start to the season for the Laramie Lady Plainsmen. They went undefeated at the Strannigan East-West Challenge in Riverton.

Laramie (4-0) was up for the task of four games in three days at the opening basketball tournament of the season.

Head coach Laura Pollard admitted the level of outside expectation has risen.

“The beauty of that is people are talking. Other coaches, like the Evanston coach came up (to me), they know what they’re seeing. I said so now the pressure’s gonna be on.”

The Lady Plainsmen started with a 48-16 romp over Riverton last Thursday. Both teams had a rocky start. They combined for 16 points, but also 22 turnovers. LHS led 12-4 after the first quarter and 20-5 by halftime. Kade Setright led the way with nine points.

Friday presented the challenge of two games in one day. Laramie beat Jackson easily, 52-24, thanks to a fast start. The Lady Plainsmen jumped to an 18-3 lead after the first quarter ended. Jennifer Aadland and Eliza Dickinson scored eight points apiece.

In the second game last Friday night, LHS rallied and beat Evanston 59-43. The Lady Plainsmen got down 10-0 and trailed 16-9 at the end of the first. Laramie tied it midway through the second quarter and took the lead for good on a free throw with 3:24 left in the first half. They out-scored the Red Devils 18-6 in the second and led 27-22 at half. Lexi Pulley scored 15 points, while Morgan Bury added 10.

The final game of the tournament was against Kelly Walsh. Those two teams played twice last season, and the games were decided by a total of four points. Each team won one of them. This one was over in the first quarter. Laramie jumped to a 17-4 lead and went on to a 60-46 victory. Jennifer Aadland led four Lady Plainsmen in double figures with her first double-double of the season. She had 18 points and 14 rebounds. Bury and Pulley added 11 points each, while Setright chipped in 10.

Pollard added they’ll be focusing on their one-hit plays since they’re in transition so much.

“We’ve gotta get those plays down more. Also, I think we need to get a little tighter on the defensive end.”

Laramie forced 140 total turnovers in the four games of this tournament.

The Lady Plainsmen will return to the court on Dec. 28 at the Cabela’s Holiday Shootout. They will play Gothenburg, NE in their first game at 2 p.m. at Sidney (NE) High School.