SHERIDAN — The Broncs got their usual win over Green River to start the season last week, but it was the win Saturday in Billings that was encouraging.
After a 66-25 win over Green River Friday, the Broncs toppled Billings Skyview 59-53, overcoming adversity in the first-weekend test.
“It was good to get off to a 2-0 start, especially picking up a big win at Skyview,” head coach Gale Smith said. “We have never beat them before, and we had to deal with some adversity in the fourth quarter. Our two-guard was out with a concussion and our point guard fouled out early in the fourth quarter.”
This week, the Sheridan girls and boys home and away with Natrona is a new addition to the schedule since Natrona joined the 4A West and Sheridan the 4A East. The Lady Broncs are in Casper Friday, while teams trade venues when the Broncs head to Casper after Christmas in early January.
“Natrona is big and physical and will attempt to full-court press us,” Smith said. “They have four kids that are 6’4” to 6’7.” Their guards shoot the ball well.”
The Mustangs (1-3) beat Cheyenne South, 64-55, last weekend but fell to Thompson Valley, Colo., 61-44 and then Cheyenne East, 58-39. Natrona grabbed a 4A weekend-high 49 rebounds in the South win, via WyoPreps.
Smith said that the Saturday matchup with Riverton will be tough as well, facing a team that is playing well despite their youth.
While early, their 62.5 points per game through two contests was second only to Gillette last weekend in 4A. The Camels played just one game on their opening weekend, defeating Green River 85-25.
Senior Reed Ritterbusch and junior Dylan Daniels lead Sheridan in scoring, with 15.5 and 14.0 respectively.
Sheridan built big leads in both wins last weekend by way of pressure defense; they were up 50-13 at half on Green River and then by 17 in the second quarter in Billings.
The Broncs had 18 steals against Green River and six against Skyview, with six blocks and five blocks respectively.
The early focus for the Broncs is still on the essentials — defense, rebounding and conditioning, Smith said.
At Natrona, the Lady Broncs get a tough early-season test by way of Stanford-bound post player Kaylee Johnson and the 4A favorite Lady Mustangs.
Sheridan beat Natrona in last year’s 4A third-place game.
But the Lady Mustangs (3-0) scorelines were impressive ones last weekend, not allowing more than 30 points in three blowout wins. Friday, they beat Cheyenne South 60-22, Windsor Colo., 60-26, and then last year’s 4A runner-up Cheyenne East, 62-26, on Saturday. Johnson averaged 18.3 points, 17 rebounds and six assists on the weekend. Fellow senior Gabby Johnson averaged 12.3 points over the three games.
The Lady Broncs spread around the points in two wins last weekend — 66-43 over Green River Friday and 59-42 over Skyview Saturday — sophomore Robbi Ryan and junior Taylor Townsend scored in double figures both days.
Tomorrow will mark the girls’ first road game of the year. They return home Saturday for the boys-girls doubleheader with Riverton.
The Lady Broncs start things off Saturday with their game at 1:30 p.m. The Lady Wolverines started 0-3 last weekend.
Sheridan County weekend sports schedule
Friday
Basketball
• 7 p.m. Natrona (1-2) at Sheridan (2-0)
• Lady Broncs (2-0) at Natrona (3-0)
• Rocky Mountain at Tongue River — girls (3-0) at 5:30 p.m., boys (1-3) at 7 p.m.
Tournaments
Little 6 Invitational at Hanna
Boys
• 6:30 p.m. Arvada-Clearmont (0-0) at Hannah-Elk Mountain
Girls
• 8 p.m. Arvada-Clearmont (0-0) at Hannah-Elk Mountain
Coal Miner’s Classic at Wright
Boys
• 10:30 a.m. Big Horn (1-3) vs. Glenrock (3A)
• 3 p.m. Big Horn vs. Thermopolis
Herder Classic at Glenrock
Girls
• 2 p.m. (1A) Kaycee vs. Big Horn (0-3)
Saturday
• Riverton at Sheridan (girls at 1:30 p.m., boys at 3 p.m.)
• Tongue River at Lovell — girls at 2:30 p.m., boys at 4 p.m.
Tournaments
Coal Miner’s Classic at Wright
Boys
• 9:30 a.m. Greybull vs. Big Horn
Herder Classic at Glenrock
Girls
• 8:30 a.m. Southeast vs. Big Horn
• 1 p.m. Big Horn vs. Lusk
Little 6 Invitational at Hanna
Boys
8 a.m. Arvada-Clearmont vs. Rock River
• 5 p.m. Arvada-Clearmont vs. Glendo
Girls
• 9:30 a.m. Arvada-Clearmont vs. Rock River
• 3:30 p.m. Arvada-Clearmont vs. Little Snake River
University of Wyoming
• Cowboys (7-2): Sunday at Denver 2 p.m., on ROOT Sports
• Cowgirls (6-2): Saturday vs. Ball State in Laramie 2 p.m.
Wrestling
• Sheridan High School at Rapid City Invite/Forsyth Tournament Fri.-Sat.
Boys swimming
• 3 p.m. Gillette Relays Fri., Gillette Pentathlon Sat.
Hockey
• Sheridan vs. Gillette Wild “A” Sat., 8:45 p.m., Sunday at 9 a.m.
Bold denotes home games
Compiled with the help of WyoPreps
The post Weekend schedule: Sheridan looks to continue fast start with Natrona, Riverton on tap appeared first on The Sheridan Press.