The Lady Braves basketball team finished the Wyoming 4A Regional Tournament with a strong second-place finish after a competitive weekend at Evanston High School from March 5th–7th. After defeating Rock Springs and Natrona in the earlier rounds, the Lady Braves advanced to the championship game before falling to Green River.
The team traveled to Evanston by bus to compete in the regional tournament, which marks the end of the regular season and determines which teams move on to the state tournament. Throughout the weekend, the Lady Braves showed determination and teamwork while competing against some of the toughest teams in the region.
For many players, the tournament was filled with memorable moments. Varsity player Avery England said one of the best parts of the weekend was celebrating the team’s accomplishment together. “The most memorable moment from this last weekend was standing in the middle of the court with the whole team after placing 2nd, and it was just a good feeling all smiling together, knowing we’re going to state and had a good weekend of playing,” England said.
England also reflected on the challenges she faced earlier in the season. She had suffered from a knee injury in the recent volleyball season, and was required to sit out at the beginning of the basketball season. “Playing through my knee injury has definitely been difficult, and even though I couldn’t start the season with my team, I’m very grateful I could heal enough to be able to finish it with them,” she said.
For senior Ambery Nelson, the regional tournament also marked one of the final moments of her high school basketball career. “It feels so surreal being a senior and coming to the last week of the season. It flew by, but it has been a great year. I will definitely miss playing so much and it has been the best time being apart of the girls basketball team,” Nelson said.
Sophomore varsity player Kate Gaskel said playing at the varsity level has been a big adjustment from JV. “The difference from playing varsity to jv is that varsity is a much faster pace, a lot more competitive, and it’s at a more skilled level,” Gaskel said. As a sophomore, Gaskel said the regional tournament brought even more intensity than a typical game. “Regionals was kinda just like any other varsity game, but there was just a lot more adrenaline and a lot more on the line,” she said.
Despite the loss in the championship game against Green River, the Lady Braves’ strong performance throughout the tournament earned them second place and secured their spot at the state tournament. After a weekend of hard work and dedication, the team now looks ahead to the next challenge as they prepare to compete at state.
