Bobcats win state semifinal to set up rematch with the Doggers

Staff

(This story was prepared by NLJ Publisher Bob Bonnar with the assistance of artificial intelligence.)

The Upton Bobcats punched their ticket to the 1A State Championship with a dominant 52-36 victory over the Niobrara County Tigers in the semifinal round at Casper College. A strong first quarter set the tone for Upton, and they never looked back, leading wire to wire to secure the win.

Fast Start Fuels Bobcats

The Bobcats wasted no time asserting their dominance, jumping out to a 14-4 lead after the opening quarter. Led by Rhett Watt, who had a game-high 24 points on an efficient 8-of-12 shooting, Upton controlled the pace early. The Bobcats’ defense stifled Lusk’s offense, holding them to just four points in the first eight minutes.

Despite a stronger second quarter from the Tigers, who managed to put up 15 points, Upton maintained control with a balanced attack, heading into halftime with a 27-19 advantage.

Second Half Surge

The third quarter saw both teams battle evenly, with Lusk outscoring Upton 11-10, but the Bobcats closed the game strong. A 15-point fourth quarter sealed the deal as Upton’s defense limited Lusk to just six points in the final frame.

Logan Timberman played a key role from beyond the arc, knocking down three three-pointers en route to 10 points. Jackson Evans contributed with six points and steady ball-handling, while Nic Schiller led the team in rebounding with eight boards.

Lockdown Defense and Rebounding Dominate

Upton’s defense was a difference-maker, forcing 11 turnovers and holding Lusk to just 29.5% shooting from the field. The Bobcats also dominated the glass, outrebounding the Tigers 33-19, with Schiller, Watt, and Ben Carpenter combining for 16 total rebounds.

Lusk’s Brady Swisher led the Tigers with 11 points, while Ridge Kupke and Nathan Miller each added nine. However, the Tigers struggled from deep, hitting just 4-of-24 three-point attempts (16.7%), making it difficult to mount a comeback.

Looking Ahead

Upton’s win sets up a rematch of last week’s 1A East Regional championship game against the Lingle-Fort Laramie Doggers. The Bobcats will hope to avenge the 59-47 loss in that contest when they take the floor at the Ford Wyoming Center for a scheduled 4 p.m. tipoff in the 1A State Championship game.

Scoring Summary:

Upton Bobcats
Rhett Watt – 24 points
Logan Timberman – 10 points
Jackson Evans – 6 points
Ben Carpenter – 7 points
Nic Schiller – 3 points
Carson Barritt – 2 points