Lady Cats Fall Short in First-Round Battle Against Riverside at State Tournament

Staff

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

The Upton Lady Bobcats put up a strong fight but ultimately fell to the Riverside Rebels, 55-49, in the first round of the 1A Wyoming State Girls Basketball Tournament at the Ford Wyoming Center on Thursday morning.

A closely contested game throughout, the matchup featured nine ties and eight lead changes. However, Riverside’s dominance on the boards and clutch free-throw shooting in the second half proved to be the difference.

Tight First Half Sets Up a Battle to the End

The Bobcats trailed by just one point after the first quarter, 13-12, and gained some momentum in the second frame, outscoring Riverside 14-10 to take a 26-23 lead into halftime. Bella Keller led the charge early for Upton, using her inside presence to keep the offense afloat.

Riverside’s Brooklyn Paxton was a force throughout, finishing with a game-high 23 points while converting an impressive 11-of-12 from the free-throw line. Johnna Clifford provided a strong second option for the Rebels, adding 18 points on 8-of-15 shooting.

Second-Half Struggles Doom Upton

Riverside came out strong in the third quarter, putting up 20 points and regaining control of the game. Upton had difficulty finding consistent offense in the second half, shooting just 24% from the field (6-of-25) after halftime. The Bobcats managed only nine points in the fourth quarter, allowing Riverside to hold on for the win.

Despite the loss, Keller put together a stellar performance for Upton, leading the team with 22 points while also contributing seven rebounds, three assists, and five steals. She was efficient inside, shooting 8-of-16 from the field and knocking down a three-pointer.

Maddie Mills was the Bobcats’ second-leading scorer, finishing with 15 points. She struggled from the field (4-of-17), but her ability to hit from beyond the arc (2-of-9) and convert free throws (5-of-6) kept Upton within striking distance. Mills also added three rebounds and two assists.

Breeley Materi provided a defensive spark for Upton, recording two steals and two assists, though she had a tough night shooting (1-of-13 from the field, 1-of-8 from three). Lilly Jackson added six points and four rebounds, while Addison Gustaf was active defensively, grabbing three rebounds and swiping two steals.

Key Statistical Battles

Rebounding: Riverside dominated the glass with a 44-26 rebounding advantage, including 13 offensive rebounds that led to 14 second-chance points. Upton managed just seven second-chance points.
Turnovers: Both teams struggled with ball security, with Upton forcing 19 Riverside turnovers but committing nine of their own. The Bobcats capitalized for 12 points off turnovers.
Three-Point Shooting: Upton struggled from deep, going 4-of-22 (18.2%) compared to Riverside’s 0-of-8 performance.
Free Throws: Riverside turned the tide at the line, improving from 3-of-10 (30%) in the first half to 12-of-16 (75%) in the second half, finishing at 15-of-26 (57.7%). Upton shot slightly better overall at 11-of-18 (61.1%).

Looking Ahead

With the loss, Upton will move to the consolation bracket, where they’ll look to keep their season alive in another 9 a.m. contest on Friday. The Cats will take on the loser of the Cokeville/Lusk contest to begin their quest for a Consolation Championship.