Similar to their contest in December, it was the Lady Bulldogs from North Platte downing the Lady Bulldogs of Alliance 43 to 29 in basketball play on Friday. NP outscored AHS 14 to 7 in the fourth quarter in getting their second victory over the Dogs this season. With the loss, Alliance slips to 4 and 15 on the year. The contest was a second round ball game as part of the Western Conference tourney. Alliance cut their deficit to just 4 early in the fourth but North Platte answered back with a 10 to 0 spree in getting the W. Leading scorer on the night for Alliance was Addison Weber who had 12 while Brooke Bailey tossed in 8.
Some nice shooting for the foul line by Alliance in the first kept the game tight. Early shots from the charity line by Bailey and Weber gave AHS a 3 to 0 lead. North Platte stormed back with 2 three pointers and a deuce to take the lead at 8 to 3 at the 4 minute mark. AHS then tied the game at 8 with a three pointer by Weber and 2 Reese Armstrong free throws. The hotly contested match went to the second knotted at 10 after 2 free throws by Bulldog Paz Cody and a bucket by the Platters.
Strong inside play by NP led the Bulldogs in the second. In all, Alliance was outscored in the period 14 to 8. Seven quick tallies by the NP Bulldogs is how the second started. Back to back buckets by Bailey ensued as Alliance stay in the hunt. With 2 minutes left in the half, the teams traded blows with Hannah Benzel scoring for Alliance. The half came to a close with free throws by Alliance’s Olivia Krejci and Brinlee Lanik and NP out in front 24 to 18.
North Platte’s D was super strong in the third, holding Alliance to just 4 points. The quarter began well for AHS with a 2 by Weber and a free throw by Armstrong. Up by just 3, North Platte came back with a three and a 2 to surge ahead by 8. Back came AHS with a free throw by Bailey and the period ended with Alliance behind 29 to 22.
Hopes for a comeback by AHS started with a three pointer by Weber but it was as close as Alliance would get. Ten straights tallies by NP would put the game away. Behind by 14, another 3 ball by Weber gave Alliance hope. The contest came to a finish with a 3 and a free throw by North Platte and a free throw by Bailey.
Final NP 43 ALL 29
All 10 8 4 7 29
NP 10 14 5 14 43
Scoring for Alliance Weber 12 Bailey 8 Armstrong 3 Lanik 1 Krejci 1 Cody 2 Benzel 2
Alliance will play Ascent Academy on Saturday