MORRILL, Nebraska – An explosive first quarter between the Lingle-Fort Laramie (LFL) High School Lady Doggers and the Morrill High School Lady Lions found LFL ahead by a commanding 20-9 margin. 

The Lady Dogger’s impressive opening run in the first eight minutes of regulation lay the groundwork for LFL to maintain the lead through a close second quarter and repeated efforts by the Lady Lions to bridge the deficit in point-for-point third and fourth quarters.

Morrill briefly narrowed the Lady Dogger’s lead to seven points early in the fourth quarter before a tenacious LFL offense widened its advantage back to 13 points and the Lady Doggers triumphed over Morrill, 55-42.

“Lfl girls played hard despite some illness among the team,” head coach Susan Bartel said. “I’m proud of the synergy among the girls and their ability to make things happen. We are looking forward to Burns and Pine Bluffs this weekend.”

Senior Natalie Speckner kicked off the game for LFL with a 7-point run early in the first quarter, including a pair of jumpers and an outside shot.

Morrill managed to net a close-range shot before junior Brenly Shipp responded with a 3-pointer.

Natalie Speckner rustled a steal, setting up sophomore Jordynn Speckner to toss in an outside shot.

Defensive pressure by Shipp and sophomores Skyla Wunder and Avary Rising resulted in multiple turnovers.

Taking possession, Rising found an opening in the Lady Lion’s perimeter to score. Natalie Speckner grabbed another steal and scored on a fast break.

Taking aim as the clock reached the end of the first quarter, Natalie Speckner netted a buzzer-beating 3-pointer, placing LFL ahead, 20-9.

The Lady Doggers outscored Morrill by one possession, 10-8, in a scrappy second quarter. Shipp tossed in six points before halftime. Freshman Charlotte Speckner entered the game and scored a close-range shot. Rising, Natalie Speckner and Jordynn Speckner maintained the defensive pressure and caused several turnovers. 

Halftime found the Lady Doggers up, 30-17.

Both teams netted 15 points in a neck-and-neck third quarter. Wunder went 2-for-2 at the free-throw line, scored on a fastbreak and netted a jumper. Natalie Speckner sank a 3-pointer and Shipp tossed in a pair of jumpers. Rising rounded out scoring with an inside shot.

A 6-point run by Morrill early in the fourth quarter narrowed LFL’s lead, 45-38.

The Lady Doggers answered back with a 5-point run consisting of points by senior Holly Leiseth and Jordynn Speckner. 

Rising and Wunder both netted jumpers and pulled the Lady Doggers up, 55-42. 

Natalie Speckner led LFL in scoring against Morrill with 15 points. Shipp tallied 14 points and Wunder 10.