Kelly Walsh Beats Laramie Twice in Cheyenne
A game that came down to the final minute and a blowout did not go Laramie’s way, as they were defeated by Kelly Walsh in Cheyenne Friday.
The Laramie Lady Plainsmen let a fourth-quarter lead slip away and lost to the Trojans 47-43 at Storey Gym last night.
Earlier in the day, the Plainsmen saw Kelly Walsh pull away in a 65-43 loss.
Both Laramie teams had their record fall to 3-4 this season.
Jennifer Aadland scored 26 points and grabbed seven rebounds, but Laramie struggled shooting and lost by four to the Trojans.
Sarah Strube converted a key three-point play and then knocked down an open 3-pointer on the wing that propelled Kelly Walsh past LHS.
It was a tight game throughout that featured 14 lead changes. There were also six ties in the game.
Laramie got up by nine early in the second quarter after a 12-2 run. KW erased that and led 23-22 at halftime. A 6-1 surge at the end of the third gave the Lady Plainsmen a 35-34 edge going into the final period. Strube’s three put the Trojans up 45-41 with about two minutes left. LHS got within two points twice, but time ran out, and Laramie’s two-game win streak was snapped.
Head coach Rod Tyson said it’s about being smarter in key situations.
“We ran a couple of sets (in the fourth quarter) and didn’t follow through with the sets. Then we turned the ball over, like two or three times down the stretch. That’s what I told them after the game, if you want to be successful, you have to be smart at the end of the game, especially a close game. You can’t have turnovers. You have to box out. Everyone has to do their job, and unfortunately, we didn’t do it tonight.”
The Lady Plainsmen shot 35 percent for the game.
Kelly Walsh shot 40.5 percent, but also went 5-of-7, 71 percent from three-point range. They also made one more free throw than Laramie. Strube scored all eight of her points in the final quarter. Danilynn Schell scored 16 points to lead the Trojans.
Laramie will try to bounce back when they face Class 2A No. 2 ranked Pine Bluffs at 4 p.m. Saturday.
The No. 3 ranked Kelly Walsh Trojans steadily pulled away from the Plainsmen midday Friday in a 65-43 victory.
It was a low-scoring first quarter, but the Trojans held an 8-4 advantage. Kelly Walsh started to pull away in the second quarter behind Davion McAdam. He scored 11 of their 21 points, as the Trojans built a 29-18 lead before LHS made a late basket. That cut it to 29-20 KW at halftime. Laramie’s Hudda Herrera picked up his fourth foul early in the second half, and Kelly Walsh capitalized, as they extended their margin to 23. It was 51-32 after the third, and the lead reached 26 in the fourth. The Plainsmen scored the final four points but fell by 22.
LHS head coach Travis Brown said it wasn’t for lack of effort.
“The kids are working hard, we just gotta, as a coaching staff, probably do a better job of putting us in better spots for their strengths. They’re competing. That’s a good team (Kelly Walsh). I told them we’re not where they’re at in January, but we want to be where they’re at in March. I don’t think, truthfully, we’re that far off.”
Laramie shot only 26 percent from the field in the game. They were 4-19, 21 percent, from beyond the arc. Herrera led LHS with 16 points and six rebounds.
Kelly Walsh shot 47 percent, despite going only 2-15 from 3-point range.
The game did see three technical fouls called. Two were on the Plainsmen with the other on the Trojans.
The Laramie boys try to bounce back against Class 2A’s top-ranked and defending state champion Pine Bluffs Hornets Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
KOWB (AM 1290) will broadcast both the Laramie versus Pine Bluffs games. Coverage will start at 2 p.m. with David Settle calling the games. You can listen on the radio, through the KOWB mobile app, or online.