(Lander, WY) – The Lander Lady Tigers take a stellar 20-4 overall record to the Class 3-A state tournament beginning Thursday in Casper. The Lady Tigers are the opening game of the tournament, facing third seeded Newcastle from the East 3-A at 9 a.m. at the Ford Wyoming Center.
“It’s kind of crazy, it’s the same matchup we had last year in the tournament. The 9 am game is wonderful if you win,” Lander head coach Serol Stauffenberg said.
Lander has the toughest side of the bracket after dropping a 30-25 decision to the Lyman Eagles in the West 3-A Regional last Saturday in Powell.
The five point loss to the Eagles ended a 19-game win streak and sends the Tigers into the top of the 3-A girls bracket with the East champion Douglas Lady Bearcats and a talented Newcastle team.
“If the East finished like everyone thought we’d only have to play one of those teams before the finals,” Stauffenberg said.
Newcastle is the only Class 3-A team to defeat Douglas in the last five years and did it twice during the regular season. The Lady Doggies were unbeaten against Wyoming teams until a semi-final loss in the East regional to Buffalo 56-41.
“Buffalo is similar to us,” Stauffenberg said. “It wasn’t as much of an upset as people think it is when they beat Newcastle.”
Lander is a balanced offensive team that plays great team defense.
Senior Whitney Hansen, Demi Stauffenberg, and Ryan Bell are the team leaders, but junior Megan Winfield and sophomore Taline Tendore are talented as well, and both can be prolific scorers. Kiara Friday has also played a key role throughout the season as well.
The Lady Tigers opening round opponent is big, balanced, and experienced with five juniors in the starting rotation.
Jaylen Ostenson, a 5-10 junior leads the team in scoring and rebounding with 18.4 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. Guard Shelby Tidyman runs the show and tallies 11.7 points and 3.1 steals per contest. Mackenzie Conzelman, another 5-10 junior averages 12.3 points per game. Tiernan Stanton a 6-2 junior post averages 6.7 rebounds and 4.1 points per, and rounding out the starting five is 5-7 junior guard Hunter McFarland who averages 6.9 points per game.
A Thursday morning win sends Lander to a 4:30 pm semi-final at Casper College against the winner of Douglas and Mountain View. A loss and they’re in a 9 am consolation contest against the loser of the Lady Bearcats and Lady Buffs.
“This is as balanced a tournament as I’ve seen, there are six teams that could win it, Lyman, Pinedale, Buffalo, Newcastle, and Douglas, along with the Lady Tigers,” Stauffenberg said.