the first quarter. Poplar accounted for a 10-0 run in the second quarter on four points by Growing Thunder, three points by Lambert and a three-pointer by Medicine Cloud for a 32-25 lead. The Thunderbirds battled back to 36-33 at the end of the half. Shambo, a junior, led Hays/ Lodgepole to a 41-38 advantage midway into the third quarter. Poplar moved ahead 49-48 at the end of the period.

the margin to 60-46, but the Indians couldn’t get any closer. Poplar’s top scorers were Dionne and Nordwick with 12 points each. Medicine Cloud finished with six points. Adding four points each were Azure, Kessee Erickson and Belton. CarryWater added three points. Leading the Thunderbirds were Sierra Chandler with 15, Ella Messerly with 12 and Alliya PrettyPaint with 11 points. The

pulled the Bulldogs to 42-41 with still 18 seconds remaining. The Lions, however, held on for the victory as a pair of free throws by Holzrichter and a basket by Grace Brown put the margin at 46-41 with only 12 seconds left. Lustre’s top scorers were Reddig with 13, Holzrichter with 12 and Brown with 11 points. Also scoring were Whitmus with seven and Ashley O’Hara with four. Leading

Poplar’s Macey looks to score. (Photo by Bill Vander Weele)