Lady Tigers dehorn Rams 52-28

After an even matchup in the first half, Encampment's Lady Tigers proved their power Monday to eventually crush the Dubois Lady Rams for a second time 52-28.

The first half of the game at Dubois saw back-and-forth scoring from both teams, with neither getting too far ahead or behind the other. The score was tied 11-11 at the end of the first quarter, and 18-16, Dubois' favor, at the end of the second.

However, once the game moved into the third quarter, the Lady Tigers got on a wild scoring spree, preventing the Lady Rams from scoring more than one point along the way. Dubois also suffered from several fouls, missed shots, steals made by Encampment, and by the third quarter's end, the Lady Tigers were ahead 36-19.

In the fourth quarter, Encampment kept up their hot scoring while Dubois struggled to make a shot, the game ended 52-28, Encampment's favor. The Lady Tigers previously beat Dubois 38-13 this season, and their Monday win put them at a 5-3 non-conference record.

The victory was also a welcome comeback after Encampment suffered a close 43-47 loss Saturday, going up against another group of Lady Tigers from Hayden, Colo. The junior varsity Lady Tigers also lost to Hayden Saturday, with a score of 5-19.

Coach Amy Clay said her girls bounced back fiercely in the second half of the Hayden game, after trailing by more than 10 points by the end of the second quarter.

"We were down by 13 at half time, with 27-14, and we went into the locker room and made some adjustments both offensively and defensively," she said. "I told the girls to keep fighting and we did. We scored 29 in the second half and 16 in the third quarter, and we got within three at the end and had to foul. They hit a free throw with two seconds to go and that's how it ended."

Cassidy Little came in as the top earner, with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Alyssa Barkhurst was next up with eight points, seven rebounds and two assists. Konnar Knotwell also scored eight points, seven rebounds and four assists; Bailey Miller snagged five points; and McKenzie Powell brought in four points and four assists.

"Sierra Loftice also played some solid minutes without turning the ball over," Clay said.

Clay said the freshmen girls stepped up and played some good minutes, and that all the girls worked hard together as a team.

"They made some mistakes, but they worked hard," she said. "I'm very proud of the team effort and we'll keep working to become better every day."

The Lady Tigers won their Jan. 7 home game against the Laramie Sophomores, with a score of 45-36. Barkhurst was the top scorer of that game with 19 points, followed by Little with 14, Knotwell with 10 and Powell with two.

Clay said she was impressed with the girls' effort in their first game back from the winter break.

"I thought our post-play was pretty awesome, and Alyssa's kind of in a new position now," she said. "I think if we get our inside presence going and a little more confidence in our guards we'll be okay. Alyssa was out front and now she's underneath, so the guards have got to step up and work a little harder too."

The Lady Tigers' next play their first conference home games at 4 p.m. Friday against Cokeville, and at noon Saturday against Farson-Eden.

Last weekend also featured several games with the Encampment middle school girls. The Encampment A Team beat Hanna-Elk Mountain-Medicine Bow (HEM) 40-6, and lost to Little Snake River 16-24. The Encampment B Team beat HEM 13-4 and Little Snake River 9-8.