Casper Prep Basketball Wrap

The Casper high school basketball scene was all over the spectrum in 2016-17. The Kelly Walsh boys won their first state championship in 36 years with a 62-49 win over Rock Springs in the title game. The Trojans beat Cheyenne Central and Sheridan in the first 2 rounds of the state tournament and looked very impressive in that state title game. KW was a senior heavy team and will not have a single senior for the 2017-18 season. The Trojans finished the year at 21-3. Natrona had the opposite fortunes. They endured their worst season in recent memory, going 4-21. The Mustangs dealt with injuries for most of the season and struggled with consistency.  Yet, NC managed to qualify for the state tournament but went two and out with losses to Gillette and Cheyenne East. The Mustangs will graduate 8 seniors from this years team

On the girls side, Natrona won twice as much as they lost and took a very respectable 3rd in the 4A State Tournament. The Fillies beat Cheyenne Central, then lost to Gillette before finishing the tournament with a victory over Laramie. NC had good talent this year but also lost a 4A West game for the first time in 6 years. The Fillies ended up the season with a record of 18-7 and will have to replace some key seniors for next season. The Kelly Walsh girls qualified for the state tournament after missing the big dance last season. In fact, the Lady Trojans received an automatic bid to state after finishing 2nd in the 4A West. But KW lost their last 4 games of the year going 2 and out in the state tournament wirth defeats to Gillette and Cheyenne Central. KW finished 11-12 but return the vast majority of their core for the 2017-18 season