Outside of East No. 3 seed Newcastle dismantling West No. 2 seed Pinedale, the quarterfinals of the Wyoming State High School Class 3A Basketball Championships went chalk Thursday at the Ford Wyoming Center.
Top seeds Douglas and Worland (boys) and Lyman and Buffalo (girls) all advanced to the semifinals, as did the Buffalo and Lyman boys and the Douglas girls. Even though seven of the top eight seeds made it through, the quarterfinals featured controversy, blowouts and some stout defense.
In the girls' bracket, West Regional champ Lyman scored with less than 30 seconds remaining to take a 40-39 lead over Torrington. The Eagles got the ball back 15 seconds later thanks to what appeared to be back-to-back alternating possessions and made two free throws to win 42-39.
Newcastle's Jaylen Ostenson shoots a layup against Pinedale during their quarterfinal game at the Wyoming State High School Class 3A Girls Basketball Championships on March 9 at the Ford Wyoming Center.
The tougher-than-expected win set up a showdown with four-time (2018-19, 2021-22) defending state champion Douglas, which rolled to a 68-32 victory against Powell behind 22 points from sophomore Lauren Olson. The Bearcats (25-2) have defeated Lyman in each of the past two state championship games.
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East Regional champ Buffalo (20-4) and East No 3 seed Newcastle (18-6) also raced to big wins. The Bison led Mountain View 41-17 at the half on their way to a 66-34 victory. The Dogies, meanwhile, limited the Wranglers to eight first-half points on their way to a 54-33 victory to advance to the semifinals for the first time since 2016.
Jaylen Ostenson had 17 points to lead the Dogies.
This will be the third time Buffalo and Newcastle have met this years, with each team winning on its home court, but the first time they have faced off at state.
Douglas junior Nate Halquist looks for an opening between Lovell defenders during their quarterfinal game at the Wyoming State High School Class 3A Boys Basketball Championships on Thursday at the Ford Wyoming Center.
The Douglas boys trailed Lovell early, but used a 14-0 run to take control on their way to a 72-42 victory. Juniors Trennan Pearson (20), Nate Halquist (15), Levi Curtis (13) and Trey Rinn (12) combined for 60 points to lead the Bearcats into the semifinals for the third year in a row.
Douglas will take on Lyman, which pulled away from a 7-5 halftime advantage against slow-it-down Wheatland for a 32-17 victory. According to wyoming-basketball.com, the Bulldogs' 17 points are the fewest scored in a boys' game since Kelly Walsh defeated Worland 33-9 in 1974.
On the other side of the bracket, Buffalo needed a late 3-pointer to hold on for a 38-35 victory against Powell and West Regional champ Worland torched Torrington 72-32 as four different Warriors scored in double figures.
PHOTOS: Day one of the Wyoming State High School Class 3A/4A Basketball Championships
Wyoming State High School Class 4A Girls Basketball Championship
Thunder Basin's Peiytyn Williams looks for an opening against Kelly Walsh during their quarterfinal game of the Wyoming State High School Class 4A Girls Basketball Championships on Thursday at Natrona County's Jerry Dalton Gym.
Wyoming State High School Class 4A Girls Basketball Championship
Thunder Basin's Addison Rouse passes the ball during a quarterfinal of the Wyoming State High School Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship on Thursday, March 9, 2023, at the Ford Wyoming Center.
Wyoming State High School Class 3A Boys Basketball Championship
Douglas's Levi Curtis goes up for a shot against Lovell defenders during the quarterfinal of the Wyoming State High School Class 3A Boys Basketball Championship on Thursday, March 9, 2023, at the Ford Wyoming Center.
Wyoming State High School Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship
Pinedale's Alyxis White charges towards the basket against Newcastle defenders during the quarterfinal of the Wyoming State High School Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship on Thursday, March 9, 2023, at the Ford Wyoming Center.
Wyoming State High School Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship
Newcastle's Shelby Tidyman shoots a 3-pointer against Pinedale during their quarterfinal game at the Wyoming State High School Class 3A Girls Basketball Championships on Thursday at the Ford Wyoming Center.
Wyoming State High School Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship
Pinedale laugh together during a timeout at the quarterfinal of the Wyoming State High School Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship on Thursday, March 9, 2023, at the Ford Wyoming Center.
Wyoming State High School Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship
Newcastle's Jaylen Ostenson shoots a layup against Pinedale during their quarterfinal game at the Wyoming State High School Class 3A Girls Basketball Championships on March 9 at the Ford Wyoming Center.
Wyoming State High School Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship
Pinedale's Sara Kunard charges up the lane against Newcastle's Oakley Checketts during the quarterfinal of the Wyoming State High School Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship on Thursday, March 9, 2023, at the Ford Wyoming Center.
Wyoming State High School Class 3A Boys Basketball Championship
Lovell's Parker Anderson shoots a free throw after Douglas's Jackson Hughes technical foul during the quarterfinal of the Wyoming State High School Class 3A Boys Basketball Championship on Thursday, March 9, 2023, at the Ford Wyoming Center.
Wyoming State High School Class 3A Boys Basketball Championship
Douglas junior Nate Halquist looks for an opening between Lovell defenders during their quarterfinal game at the Wyoming State High School Class 3A Boys Basketball Championships on Thursday at the Ford Wyoming Center.
Wyoming State High School Class 3A Boys Basketball Championship
Douglas' Nate Halquist shoots a reverse layup against Lovell's Davin Crosby during their quarterfinal game of the Wyoming State High School Class 3A Boys Basketball Championships on Thursday at the Ford Wyoming Center.
Wyoming State High School Class 4A Boys Basketball Championship
Cheyenne East's Garet Schlabs tries to shoot over Jackson Hole's Andrew Hanna, Gavin Keelin and Isaac Larsen during the quarterfinal of the Wyoming State High School Class 4A Boys Basketball Championship on Thursday, March 9, 2023, at Natrona County High School.
Wyoming State High School Class 4A Boys Basketball Championship
Jackson Hole's Gavin Keelin looks for an open teammate during their game against Cheyenne East at the quarterfinal of the Wyoming State High School Class 4A Boys Basketball Championship on Thursday, March 9, 2023, at Natrona County High School.
Wyoming State High School Class 4A Girls Basketball Championship
Sheridan's Alli Ligocki is defended by Green River's Mckinlet Killpack during their quarterfinal game at the Wyoming State High School Class 4A Girls Basketball Championships on Thursday at Natrona County's Jerry Dalton Gym.
Wyoming State High School Class 4A Girls Basketball Championship
Kelly Walsh's Peyton Carruth shoots a free throw during the Trojans' quarterfinal game against Thunder Basin at the Wyoming State High School Class 4A Girls Basketball Championships on Thursday at Natrona County's Jerry Dalton Gym.
Wyoming State High School Class 4A Boys Basketball Championship
Laramie Neil Summers prepares to shoot between Riverton's Kade Gabrielson (5) and Dre'Vin Monroe during their quarterfinal game at the Wyoming State High School Class 4A Boys Basketball Championships on Thursday at Natrona County's Jerry Dalton Gym.
Wyoming State High School Class 4A Boys Basketball Championship
A Riverton cheerleader anxiously watches the Riverton play against Laramie during the quarterfinal of the Wyoming State High School Class 4A Boys Basketball Championship on Thursday, March 9, 2023, at Natrona County High School.
Wyoming State High School Class 4A Boys Basketball Championship
Riverton's Parker Paxton looks for an opening in the Wolverines' quarterfinal game against Laramie at the Wyoming State High School Class 4A Boys Basketball Championships on March 9 at Natrona County's Jerry Dalton Gym.
Wyoming State High School Class 4A Boys Basketball Championship
Laramie celebrates advancing to the semifinals after beating Riverton in the quarterfinal of the Wyoming State High School Class 4A Boys Basketball Championship on Thursday, March 9, 2023, at Natrona County High School.
Wyoming State High School Class 4A Boys Basketball Championship
Thunder Basin gathers together as a team before taking on Cody in the quarterfinal of the Wyoming State High School Class 4A Boys Basketball Championship on Thursday, March 9, 2023, at Natrona County High School,
Wyoming State High School Class 4A Boys Basketball Championship
Thunder Basin's Kayden Laframboise shoots the ball Cody's Wilkins Radakovich during the quarterfinal of the Wyoming State High School Class 4A Boys Basketball Championship on Thursday, March 9, 2023, at Natrona County High School.
Wyoming State High School Class 4A Boys Basketball Championship
Cody's Wilkins Radakovich defends Thunder Basin's Kayden LaFramboise during their quarterfinal game at the Wyoming State High School Class 4A Boys Basketball Championships on Thursday at Natrona County's Jerry Dalton Gym.
Wyoming State High School Class 4A Boys Basketball Championship
Cody fans react to a call during the quarterfinal of the Wyoming State High School Class 4A Boys Basketball Championship on Thursday, March 9, 2023, at Natrona County High School.
Wyoming State High School Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship
Buffalo's Hannah Qualm and Mountain View's Kallea Pitts vie for the rebound during the quarterfinal of the Wyoming State High School Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship on Thursday, March 9, 2023, at the Ford Wyoming Center.
Wyoming State High School Class 4A Boys Basketball Championship
Thunder Basin's Caleb Howell gets guarded by Wilkins Radakovich and Maddax Ball during the quarterfinal of the Wyoming State High School Class 4A Boys Basketball Championship on Thursday, March 9, 2023, at Natrona County High School.
Wyoming State High School Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship
Buffalo's Grace Peterson and Mountain View's Mckinlee Covolo face off for the tip-off Thursday during the quarterfinal of the Wyoming State High School Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship at the Ford Wyoming Center.
Wyoming State High School Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship
Mountain View's Mckinlee Covolo blocks Buffalo's Grace Peterson's shot during the quarterfinal of the Wyoming State High School Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship on Thursday, March 9, 2023, at the Ford Wyoming Center.
Wyoming State High School Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship
Mountain View's Mylie Micheli runs through a tunnel of cheerleaders before their quarterfinal game against Buffalo at the Wyoming State High School Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship on Thursday, March 9, 2023, at the Ford Wyoming Center.
Follow sports editor Jack Nowlin on Twitter @wyovarsity
Jack Nowlin
Sports editor
Jack Nowlin returned to the Star-Tribune in 2007 after eight years covering Michigan State University athletics. A Wyoming native, and a graduate of Jeffrey City High School and the University of Wyoming, Jack serves as the Star-Tribune’s sports editor.
