LUSK – Posting an undefeated 2-0 record for the weekend, the Southeast High School Lady Cyclones defeated non-conference rival Mitchell, Nebraska, on January 19 followed by a victory against the 2A Niobrara County High School Lady Tigers on January 20.

Southeast prevailed against Mitchell by a significant 40-20 margin.

“I thought my kids played the best game so far this year against Mitchell,” head coach Jennifer Scheer said. “Our defense was on track – we changed few things up defensively kids responded well. This was more of a complete games offensively from beginning to end.”

The game against Niobrara County came down to the wire. The Lady Cyclones led by two possessions, 15-11, at halftime. Niobrara County tied the game at 20 points in the third quarter.

Decisive points by the Lady Cyclones late in the third quarter widened Southeast’s lead to 31-25 as the fourth quarter commenced. The Lady Cyclones maintained the lead through a physical fourth quarter to post the win, 38-31.

“Against Lusk, the kids found a way to do what they needed to do to get a win,” Scheer said. “We rebounded tremendously and shot well from free throw line. We are seeing improvement each week.”

Niobrara County

The Lady Cyclones soundly won the first quarter, 8-2.

Senior Baylie Booth commenced scoring for Southeast with a close-range shot. Sophomore Hadley Leithead rustled a steal, setting Southeast up for a 4-point run from senior Sasha Haines and Leithead. 

The Southeast defense dominated the first quarter, including three steals from Haines and two by sophomore Kaycee Kosmicki. 

The Lady Tigers rallied in the second quarter to net nine points to seven by the Lady Cyclones.

Haines, Booth, Kosmicki and junior Anna Hartman kept Southeast on the scoreboard and the halftime score favored Southeast, 15-11. 

Early in the third quarter, the Lady Tigers closed Southeast’s lead to a single point, 17-16.

Senior Kylee Llewellyn grabbed a steal, setting Leithead up to net a jumper. Llewellyn found an opening in Niobrara County’s perimeter to score, widening Southeast’s lead, 20-17.

The Lady Tigers tossed in a 3-pointer, tying the game, 20-20.

Taking possession, Leithead went on a 4-point run, placing the Lady Cyclones ahead, 24-20.

Niobrara County netted another outside shot, narrowing the deficit to a single point, 24-23.

Llewellyn responded with a close-range shot and Southeast led, 26-23. Haines tossed in an inside shot, maintaining a 3-point advantage for the Lady Cyclones, 28-25.

Booth snapped up a steal and went on to net a layup. A free throw by Kosmicki pulled Southeast ahead, 31-25, as the fourth quarter began.

Southeast outscored Niobrara County, 7-6, in the fourth quarter

Leithead led the Lady Cyclones in scoring against the Lady Tigers with 15 points. Haines contributed eight points, Booth six and Llewellyn four.