One of Wyoming’s best high school boys basketball teams, Cheyenne Central, was on display Thursday when the Indians took on the Alliance team. The Bulldogs hung with Cheyenne for a half but a 19 to 9 third quarter was too much as Alliance fell 77 to 48. With the loss, the Dogs now sees their record drop to 4 and 2.
The game was played in Scottsbluff and had the Bulldogs down just by 9 at halftime before Cheyenne pulled away. Leading the scoring for AHS was Espen Lanik who had 14 points while Payton Boyer added 10. Cheyenne Central also won the junior varsity matchup, defeating the Bulldogs 69 to 35.
Both team’s offenses were clicking in the first period. Four three pointers by the Indians gave the Indians an early advantage. Lanik started the scoring for Alliance with an early trey. Free throws followed by Boyer and Lanik as the Dogs stayed close. Senior Seth Meyring then kept Alliance in striking range with 5 points in a row towards the close of the first period. The first quarter closed with a Lanik three and Bulldogs down 20 to 14.
Action remained tight in the second with the Indians tallying 16 points and Alliance netting 13. Two pointers by Lanik and Trevor Zurn began play for the Dogs. Alliance’s final 9 points all came on three pointers. Meanwhile, Cheyenne tallied a pair of treys in keeping their lead. Bulldog threes came from Lanik, Boyer, and Lexton Salcido. After 2 quarters of play, Cheyenne Central led 36 to 27.
In period #3, the Bulldogs got 2 hoops by Meyring to start the scoring. The Indians countered with 2 more three pointers and 3 tallies from the free throw line to keep the pressure on Alliance. A trey by Salcido and a bucket by Boyer was all the Dogs could tally as Cheyenne added to their lead. The Indians took a 55 to 36 margin heading to the fourth. Cheyenne continued their red hot shooting in the final 8 minutes of play. The Indians made four more 3s in the stanza to pull away. A basket by Boyer was followed by a three by Lanik as AHS got on the board. Boyer then added another goal at the midway point of the fourth. Free throws ensued by Lanik and Riley Best but it was not enough. The contest concluded with a basket by Bulldog Braeden Clarke and the Indians winning 77 to 48.
CHEY 20 16 19 22 77
ALL 14 13 9 12 48
Scoring Lanik 14 Boyer 10 Meyring 9 Salcido 6 Zurn 5 Best 2 Clarke 2.
Alliance will host Chadron on Friday.