The season came to an end for the Laramie Plainsmen Thursday with a 59-52 loss to Cheyenne Central at the 4A East Regional tournament in Gillette.

Laramie led by 16 points in the first half, but failed to hold on, as Central out-scored the Plainsmen 41-25 in the second half.

Down 27-18 at half, the Indians took advantage of eight turnovers by LHS in the third quarter and got back in it. Hudda Herrera’s put-back just before the buzzer had Laramie in front, 38-35, at the end of the third. Central took the lead on a pair of free throws by Jessen Reckling and never gave it up.

Laramie head coach Travis Brown said the effort was there.

“The boy’s gave it all they had. I’m very proud of them. Unfortunately foul trouble kind of plagues us, and Chad (Browning) and Hudda fouling out with a lot of time left in the fourth quarter puts a lot of pressure on some kids that have never had the experience in games like that.”

Laramie (5-17) was whistled for 25 fouls in the game. Nate Burman led the way with 19 points. Herrera and Asa Williams added nine points apiece. Herrera also finished with 11 rebounds. LHS shot 38 percent in the game. They were only 4-7 at the free throw line.

Cheyenne Central (11-11) will get a chance to defend their 4A title they won a year ago. The Indians were led by Reckling with 22 points, 12 of which came in the fourth quarter. Central shot 35 percent, but got to the line and wen 22-28, 79 percent.

The Plainsmen got out to a 16-point lead in the first half. Laramie trailed 5-0 early, but rallied for a 12-9 lead at the end of the first. Three-pointers from Williams, Will Tyser and Isaiah Martinez pushed their advantage to 25-9. Central finally scored their first points of the second quarter with 3:06 left in the half.

The Indians got some momentum right before half with a 9-2 surge going into the locker-room.

Brown said, “We gave back the momentum; gave ‘em hope. I think if we could’ve went in at halftime with that lead; you know we had not them score that whole second quarter and then all of the sudden we gave them nine points in about three minutes.”

With the season over, Laramie looks to build for next year with 10 players on the regional roster returning.

Brown added, “What you’re going to see is a team next year that is veteran and going to have learned from these experiences, and learn how to finish games out. We’re returning everybody, pretty much. Two guys that are kind of the heart in some ways are graduating, but in reality the core of the guys will be back.”

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