Road Trip Brings Mixed Results for Royals

Heading to Wyoming for the second time in two weeks, the Royals would finish their five games in nine days, which included around forty hours of bus time. 

At this point, the Royals were 2-1 in the first leg, with wins over Northwestern and Jamestown JV. The loss coming to a talented Sheridan squad on their home court. All that was in the rear view mirror, up ahead was the trip to Gillette, WY where LRSC would take on Gillette and Casper.

Earlier in the season, the Royals had defeated Gillette 79-66 at the sporscenter, so the Pronghorns would be looking for revenge. The home team came out swinging and Lake Region found themselves on the ropes in the first half aided by numerous turnovers and Gillette's transition offense getting out on LRSC. At half they trailed 48-38. Things did not get much better within the first ten minutes of the second half as the Pronghorn lead swelled. Then all of the sudden, trailing by twenty, the Royals woke up. Zac Olson got hot from the field nailing five of his six threes in the second half on his way to 29 points. TJ Mickelson helped orchestrate the comeback with his control putting in 14 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists. With less than ten seconds to go and the Pronghorns on the free throw line, LRSC was trailing 87-85. The FT missed right giving the Royals an opportunity to comedown where TJ Mickelson found Zac Olson for the game winning three. The final 88-87 in favor of Lake Region State. Jayden Komrosky scored 18 points to help lead the comeback.

Game two had the Royals matched up against Casper. Casper came in with a 10-1 record, averaging 102ppg. Lake Region tried to slow down this high scoring offense but the long two weeks and the dramatic comeback took its toll. It was not their night as they lost to Casper 112-65.

After the trip Head Coach Jared Marshall said, "We picked up another split on the road which was a good accomplishment. When we were good this weekend, we were good. When we were not we were not. As a team, we went through the highs and the lows of being on the road. I was very proud of our no quit attitude that led to a great comeback over a solid Gillette squad. In the game against Casper, it was one of those days where no matter what, things just never went your way. You have those nights, I told our guys as much after. We are going to learn from it and get better."

Royals are now 10-3 on the season and have some time off before they play.

Go Royals!