Dreams of Twin Titles Have to Wait Until State for Upton Teams
Upton's basketball teams will look to rebound at the State Tournament next week after disappointing losses in their Regional Championship games. (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 fought valiantly in front of their home crowd at the 1A East Regional Tournament on Saturday afternoon, but both teams fell short in their respective championship games. Despite the losses, both squads secured runner-up finishes and punched their tickets to next week’s 1A State Tournament.
With their championship aspirations still alive, both teams will look to regroup and make a deep run in pursuit of a state title. Upton’s faithful fans will be right behind them, hoping their teams can finish the season on the highest note possible.
Lady Bobcats Struggle Offensively in Championship Loss
The Upton Lady Bobcats faced a tough Southeast Cyclones squad in the championship game, falling 34-24 in a defensive battle. The game saw both teams grind through low-scoring quarters, with Southeast capitalizing on key possessions to pull away in the second half.
Maddie Mills led Upton with 11 points, followed by Bella Keller with three. Breeley Materi and Addison Gustaf each added four points, while Paige Mills chipped in two. The Lady Bobcats struggled to find consistent offensive rhythm against Southeast’s defense, which was anchored by Kaycee Kosmicki’s 12 points and Brylie Booth’s seven.
Despite the loss, the Lady Bobcats remain in the hunt for a state title and will aim to rebound in Casper next week.
Bobcats Come Up Short Against Lingle-Fort Laramie
The Upton Bobcats faced the Lingle-Fort Laramie Doggers in the boys’ championship game, battling hard but ultimately falling 59-47. The Doggers’ offensive firepower proved too much to handle, with Brady Cook leading the way with 20 points and Ned Nelson adding 21.
Jackson Evans was a bright spot for the Bobcats, pouring in a team-high 17 points. Rhett Watt contributed nine, while Logan Timberman added seven. Despite some strong individual performances, Upton couldn’t overcome Lingle-Fort Laramie’s balanced attack.
State Tournament Awaits
Though the regional titles slipped away, the journey is far from over for both Upton squads. The Bobcats and Lady Bobcats will head to Casper next week, each entering the 1A State Basketball Tournament as the East Region’s #2 seed.