The Braves and Lady Braves basketball teams wrapped up their 2024-25 campaigns at the 4A State tournament in Casper over the weekend.
The girls fell in the quarterfinals to eventual champion Cheyenne Central, 68-33, dropping them into the consolation bracket for Friday. Emily Dana, Makell Haderlie and Morgan Magee each chipped in six points for the team high.
The squad then ran into regional champion Green River who dispatched the Lady Braves and eliminated them from the season. The Wolves put up a season-high in a 76-40 final. Dana led the team with 10 points while Ambrey Nelson added nine.
The Wolves went on to handle Natrona County 60-45 for the Consolation finals. Central knifed through the competition on their way to the state title, defeating Campbell County 63-35 and then Sheridan, 49-30 in the championship.
The Braves went up against East champion Sheridan in the quarterfinals and had a back and forth contest until the final two minutes of the second quarter and most of the third as the Broncs went on a 15-0 run. It was a hole that the Braves battled to overcome and trailed by just two points heading into the game’s final moments. A pair of untimely turnovers paired with Sheridan’s shooting from the free throw line sealed the game 55-47. Cooper Lancaster finished with 21 points with Dylan Shumway scoring 11.
The loss dropped the Braves into the consolation bracket where they met Kelly Walsh for the fourth time this season. Unlike the other three contests, this game was one-sided as the Trojans led throughout in a 57-48 final. Star Valley couldn’t get any rhythm going offensively and saw their season come to a close. Dayton Schwab finished with 15 points off the bench to lead the team in scoring. Zane Hedges scored 12 and Dylan Shumway added 11.
Campbell County went on to win the 4A boys championship with a 51-47 win over Sheridan in the semifinals and Laramie 62-55 in the finals. The Broncs went on to place third.
Natrona County won the Consolation bracket with a 54-52 overtime win over the Trojans.
3A Tournament
The Douglas Lady Bearcats won their program’s 7th straight team title with a 58-55 win over the Cody Fillies in the championship. Pinedale placed third with a 65-44 win over Torrington. Buffalo won the Consolation bracket.
The Lovell Bulldogs took the 3A boys state championship with a 44-40 win over Cody.
Torrington placed third in a 47-39 win over Wheatland. Buffalo took the Consolation bracket.
