Locals fall in all-star games

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. – Lingle-Fort Laramie’s Makenna Greenwald and Kaylynn Jefferson and Torrington’s Tyler Ring  found themselves on the losing end of the Panhandle Prep All-Star Games Saturday at Western Nebraska Community College in Scottsbluff.
Greenwald and Jefferson were  on the red team for the girls’ contest. After the first 12-minute quarter, the red squad held a 26-22 lead that was trimmed to 40-39 by intermission. The blue took control in the second half, outscoring the red 25-15 in the third quarter and 22-11 in the fourth. The blue’s big second half helped them get an 88-66 win.
Greenwald and Jefferson each had two points during the contest. Greenwald also added a rebound to her stat line. Brooke Turek (Hemingford, Neb.) was the leading scorer for the red team, pouring in 19 points. Bailey Brooks (Douglas) racked up 17 points for the blue team and was named MVP for the game.
In the boys game, Ring was placed on the blue team that came out on the losing end of a high-scoring affair. Red built a 38-24 lead after the first frame, but the blue closed the gap, trailing 71-63 heading into intermission. The red team continued its dominance in the second half, racking up 74 points to the blue’s 63. The red took the win, 145-126.

During Ring’s time on the court, he found his way to the basket, tallying up 16 points all from inside the arc. He rounded out his stat line with seven boards, two assists, a steal and a block.
“I just played loose. This game has really no implications at all so you can just go out and play loose,” Ring said. “You can play like coach never lets you.”
Ring was second for the blue in scoring, behind Trey Winkler’s (Gering, Neb.) 34 points. Future Eastern Wyoming College men’s basketball player, Ty Larson (Douglas), added 15 points in the loss. Scottsbluff’s Dru Kuxhausen paced all scorers with 35 points and was named MVP.
“It’s a super fun game to play in. There is a lot of good players here,” Ring said. “You don’t really know them outside of playing against them so it’s really fun to get to play with them.”
Ring also competed in the slam dunk competition. He was unable to get the win, with Scottsbluff’s Landon Walker taking the crown.
“It was fun though. There were some good dunkers here,” Ring said. “Some of the kids weren’t big and they were throwing down good dunks. It was just fun to be apart of it with these great athletes.”