Western Nebraska’s game on the night was played Friday in Bridgeport. It featured a pair of Bulldog squads. And when the dust settled, it was the Dogs from Alliance getting the win over BP 58 to 47. Alliance got a big performance by senior Espen Lanik in picking up their sixth win on the year. Lanik scored 27 points including 15 in the fourth as the guests rallied for the victory. The visitors also got the W in the JV contest played earlier in the evening. Alliance down BP in the junior varsity match up 69 to 31. Action was tight throughout. Bridgeport led by 3 at half and by 4 after three quarters before the A Dogs comeback. Alliance would outscore the hosts 24 to 9 in period #4 in posting the victory.
A pair of late three pointers by BP tied the game at 11 at the end of the first. Bridgeport started the game with a 3 and a 2 to grab the early advantage at 5 to 1. Alliance’s first tally came on a free throw by Jaden Guerra. Down by 4, momentum then went to AHS. The Bulldogs went on a 10 to 0 spree to go by 6 at 11 to 5. Thanks to points by Braeden Clarke, Guerra, Lanik, and Devin Graham, the guests surged ahead 11 to 5 at the one minute mark. BP responded with back to back treys and the quarter closed knotted at 11.
Quarter #2 again was a close one with BP scoring 15 and Alliance tallying 12. Play began with 2 Clarke free throws and a 3 ball by Lanik which put the visitors up by 5. The teams then swapped tallies at the midway point with AHS getting points by Lanik and Graham. It was then Alliance’s reserves getting in on the scoring. A bucket by Riley Best tied the contest at 21. It was followed by a hoop by Lexton Salcido. Period 2 ended with a Bridgeport score and Alliance trailing 26 to 23.
All 5 Alliance starters found the scoring column in the third. Unfortunately, it was the hosts besting the Bulldogs 12 to 11 in increasing its lead. Six early points by Trevor Zurn, Graham, and Guerra gave AHS a lead at 29 to 28 with 5 minutes remaining in the period. The B Dogs answered right back with 6 in a row as the Alliance deficit went to 5. A three by Lanik stopped the spree but 2 free throws by BP made it a 4 point cushion. The third closed a Clarke score for Alliance and a deuce by the hosts. Alliance was behind 38 to 34 after three quarters of play.
Alliance’s comeback began with 8 straight to start the fourth. Three buckets by Lanik plus a 2 by Guerra made it a 42 to 38 ball game. After 2 free throws by BP, a 3 ball by Lanik pushed the Bulldog’s margin to 5. Alliance then got 2 big threes by Zurn and Best to deny a Bridgeport rally. The hosts were then forced to foul. Down the stretch free throws by Lanik and Clarke iced the contest. Up by 14, a BP 3 was followed by 2 more Lanik free throws and another score by the hosts. Final Alliance 58 Bridgeport 47
ALL 11 12 11 24 58
BP 11 15 12 9 47
Scoring for Alliance Lanik 27 Clarke 7 Graham 6 Guerra 6 Zurn 5 Best 5 Salcido 2
A very talented Gothenburg team comes to Alliance on Saturday.