Upton Falls to Lingle-Ft. Laramie in State Title Game

Staff

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

The Upton Bobcats fought until the bitter end, but their championship dreams slipped away in a hard-fought 41-32 loss to the Lingle-Ft. Laramie Doggers at the Ford Wyoming Center.

A Defensive Struggle

From the opening tip, it was clear that this was going to be a grind-it-out game. Both teams struggled to score early, finishing the first quarter tied at nine. Upton, however, hit a major scoring drought in the second quarter, managing just four points while Lingle-Ft. Laramie edged ahead with six. By halftime, the Bobcats trailed 15-13, well within striking distance.

Fourth Quarter Collapse

After a back-and-forth third quarter where both teams scored nine points, Upton was still within reach, trailing 24-22 heading into the final period. But the fourth quarter belonged to the Doggers. Lingle-Ft. Laramie erupted for 17 points, their highest-scoring quarter of the game, while Upton managed just 10.

Despite the disappointment, the Bobcats showed resilience and determination all season. They played tough defense, forcing 12 turnovers, and remained competitive until the final minutes.

Brody Roberts delivered a clutch performance for the Doggers, leading all scorers with 20 points and adding 6 rebounds. Brady Cook also made a big impact with 10 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.

Upton's Statistical Leaders

Despite the loss, several Bobcats put up notable performances:

Points Leader – Logan Timberman & Jackson Evans (9 points each)
Rebounds Leader – Rhett Watt (8 rebounds, including 7 defensive boards)
Assists Leader – Rhett Watt & Nic Schiller (2 assists each)
Steals Leader – Nic Schiller (2 steals)
Blocks Leader – No recorded blocks

Timberman (4-of-9 FG, 1-of-4 from three) and Evans (3-of-12 FG, 1-of-7 from three) provided the bulk of Upton’s offense, but the team’s shooting woes made it difficult to build momentum. As a team, the Bobcats shot just 30.2% from the field and 15.8% from three-point range.