Laramie Finishes Taco John’s Invite With a Pair of Sweeps

Both Laramie High School basketball teams recorded a pair of wins Friday and Saturday to wrap up play in the Taco John’s Invitational.

The Laramie Plainsmen and Lady Plainsmen swept Casper Kelly Walsh Friday in Cheyenne and did the same to Green River at home Saturday.

Laramie Lady Plainsmen

The Laramie Lady Plainsmen bounced back from their loss last Thursday to top Kelly Walsh 55-52.

Laramie took the lead for good late in the first half and held a 26-22 edge. The lead grew to nine points in the third quarter, before LHS held off a late charge by the Trojans. Kade Setright made a big jumper, Eliza Dickinson drove for a left-handed lay-up and Lexi Pulley converted a fast break lay-in over a defender in the final minutes that led to victory.

Bridgette Johnson had 14 points to lead Laramie, while Pulley added 10 and Callie Clingman chipped in a career-high eight points. LHS forced 24 turnovers by Kelly Walsh.

A strong second quarter surge helped the Lady Plainsmen beat Green River at the LHS gym, 57-43, Saturday.

LHS trailed 11-7 after the first quarter. Laramie then out-scored the Wolves 25-11 in the second. Spurred by ten points from Johnson and six from Setright, they built a 32-22 lead at half.

Johnson led the Lady Plainsmen with 12 points, Morgan Bury had a career-high 10 points, while Setright and Jennifer Aadland added 9 points and 9 rebounds apiece. Laramie also went 12-of-13 at the free throw line and had a 41-25 edge on the glass.

The Lady Plainsmen are 7-2 on the season.

Laramie Plainsmen

A fast start led the Laramie Plainsmen to a 43-34 win over Kelly Walsh Friday in Cheyenne.

The Plainsmen raced out to a 13-0 lead, which ballooned to 24-8 in the second quarter. The Trojans cut it to six points twice in the second half before LHS held on.

Jake Aadland led Laramie with 14 points. The Plainsmen shot 52 percent from the field and out-rebounded Kelly Walsh 27-17.

The Trojans shot only 32 percent.

The hot shooting carried over to Saturday in Laramie’s 73-55 victory over the Green River Wolves.

The Plainsmen shot 57 percent from the floor. That included 11-of-20 (55%) from beyond the arc. They also held a 29-17 edge on the backboards.

LHS had a big first half and led 45-21 at halftime, as they cruised to the win.

Aadland led three Laramie players in double figures with 19 points. Donovan Downey scored a career-high 11 points, while Andrew Garcia added 10.

It’s the first back-to-back victories this season for the Plainsmen, who are now above .500 with a 5-4 record.