CASPER – After running into a tough East team on Thursday, the Rock Springs Lady Tigers bounced back to beat the Green River Lady Wolves, 54-45. The ladies will play Central for a consolation title on Saturday.
After struggling on day one, both the Green River Lady Wolves and Rock Springs Lady Tigers looked to keep playing on Friday. They knew one would move on and one would go home as they faced each other.
The Lady Tigers lost to Cheyenne East to open the tournament. A big second quarter for the Thunderbirds was the difference. East outscored RSHS 17-5 in the quarter to take a commanding lead at the break. In the end, East moved on with the 56-34 win.
Emily Quigley led the way for Rock Springs with nine points. Maggie Justinak added eight while Stevie Hill and Sarye Thomas both finished with six.
The Lady Wolves faced top seed from the east, Gillette. The Lady Camels opened on a 25-7 run and never took their foot off the gas pedal. Gillette finished with the 65-25 win. Green River had eight girls score with four being the highest point total.
Maggie Justinak made an early three while Lyndzie Kroupa and Stevie Hill also had early buckets for RSHS the open Firday’s contest. However, Green River had 15 first-quarter rebounds and six points by Mallory Seymour as the Lady Wolves led after one, 9-7.
Chelsea Maes and Andri Dewey hit back-to-back threes for GRHS to open the second. Lyndzie Kroupa took over, scoring six to pull the Lady Tigers to within two, 15-13. Dewey added her second three of the quarter to extend it back to five with two minutes left in the half.
Justinak went to work and had the Lady Tigers within one, but the Lady Wolves scored the next three points. Makenzie Kroupa would give RSHS the momentum heading into the break as she nailed a three with the buzzer sounding. Her shot had Rock Springs within one at the half, 21-20.
Rock Spring’s offensive struggles continued in the third as they missed several good looks at the bucket. The teams traded points and, with three minutes left, Justinak warmed up. She scored two and followed it with two three-pointers to give the Lady Tigers the lead, 32-30.
After Moriah Morin evened the score, Hill hit from deep. L. Kroupa and Selena Cudney also scored in the final minute to put the Lady Tigers up after three, 38-34.
Hill extended the lead to start the fourth but Maes quickly answered with a three. Not to be outdone, Justinak connected with another deep three and, on the next play, White fouled out for GRHS with the score 43-37.
The Lady Tigers got points from Cudney L. Kroupa and Hill as the Tigers extended the lead to double digits. The Lady Wolves did not go away quietly as Seymour pulled GRHS back to within single digits. Hill and Lyndzie Kroupa added free throws to ice the game.
