ROCK SPRINGS – The third-ranked Rock Springs Lady Tigers remained perfect on the season as they defeated the defending 3A State Champion Worland, 58-52, to open the Flaming Gorge Classic.
The two teams played even through the first two quarters. Makylee Buell hit a three and Maggie Justinak scored four early but Worland was able to hang on to a small lead for most of the first. Sarye Thomas had a solid first quarter to keep the Lady Tigers close and a bucket by Emily Quigley at the end of the quarter one evened the game at 16.
Justinak and Buell combined to give the Lady Tigers the lead to start the second quarter. The Lady Warriors continued to fire and the two teams traded the lead. The second quarter ended like the first as a Quigley putback at the buzzer evened the game at 33.
Buell caught fire to start the third quarter as the Lady Tigers were able to grab the lead to start. Sayre Thomas was able to control the tempo in the second half and although she did score a ton of points, Selena Cudney did the small things as Rock Springs led by five at the end of three, 47-42.
Alyssa Vigil and Kyla Henry played solid minutes in the second half and Thomas continued to set the pace in the final quarter. Key buckets by Justinak iced the game as Rock Springs moved to 4-0 with the six-point win. Buell finished with 20 points to lead the way for the ladies. Justinak finished with a double-double on the night scoring 15 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Thomas finished with 13 while Quigley added eight points and five boards.
The ladies are scheduled to return to the court at 1 p.m. on Friday as they face the Lyman Lady Eagles. Lyman opened with a win over Idaho’s Bonneville on Thursday, 50-47.
Rock Springs High School
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