Bobcats and Lady Bobcats Set for Regional Championship Battles in Upton This Afternoon
Upton's basketball teams have given their fans plenty to cheer about at this weekend's regional tournament. (NLJ Photo/Walter Sprague)
(This story was prepared by NLJ Publisher Bob Bonnar with the assistance of artificial intelligence.)
The Upton Bobcats and Lady Bobcats basketball teams are on a roll at the 1A East Regional Tournament, earning spots in the championship games after securing hard-fought victories in the semifinals on Friday. With a roaring home crowd at Upton High School, both teams delivered electrifying performances, punching their tickets to the state tournament in the process.
Bobcats Overcome Lusk in Overtime Thriller
The Upton Bobcats faced a stiff challenge in their semifinal matchup against Lusk, battling through four intense quarters before prevailing in overtime with a 60-53 victory. Lusk tied the game with a desperation three-pointer at the end of regulation to force the OT, but Upton prevailed in an electric home environment. The win followed a dominant first-round performance on Thursday, where Upton cruised past Hanna-Elk Mountain with a decisive 63-26 win.
Semifinal Scoring Leaders:
- Jackson Evans: 20 points
- Logan Timberman: 13 points
- Rhett Watt: 12 points
- Nic Schiller: 7 points
- Ben Carpenter: 9 points
- Carson Barritt: 3 points
With the victory, the Bobcats cemented their spot in the state tournament and will now set their sights on the regional championship game against Lingle-Fort Laramie this afternoon.
Lady Bobcats Dominate Lusk to Reach Final
The Upton Lady Bobcats were unstoppable in their semifinal matchup, delivering a commanding 55-17 victory over Lusk. The dominant performance followed their first-round 57-14 win over Hanna-Elk Mountain on Thursday.
Semifinal Scoring Leaders:
- Bella Keller: 15 points
- Breeley Materi: 12 points
- Maddie Mills: 10 points
- Addison Gustaf: 4 points
- Lilly Jackson: 3 points
- Caden Simianer & Peyton Wilson: 2 points each
The Lady Bobcats now prepare for a championship showdown against Southeast, looking to capture the 1A East Regional title.
Championship Games Set for Saturday
Both Upton teams will hit the court today in front of their home fans with regional titles on the line. The Lady Bobcats will take on Southeast at noon, followed immediately by the Bobcats’ championship clash with Lingle-Fort Laramie. Stay tuned for updates on newslj.com as the Bobcats and Lady Bobcats battle for regional supremacy!