The Evanston High School girls’ basketball team opened its 2023-24 campaign on the road at the Oil City Tip-Off Tournament in Casper last weekend, posting an 0-3 record against some strong competition.

The Lady Devils (0-3) opened the tournament Thursday with a 59-40 loss to Natrona County. Evanston then played No. 4-ranked Laramie Friday, falling 56-21. The Lady Devils closed out the tournament Saturday against Cheyenne South, falling 47-26 in a game they led by eight points at the half.

Natrona County 59, Lady Devils 40

A slow start doomed the Lady Devils in the opening round of the Oil City Tip-Off in Casper Thursday, as a 17-3 run by the Fillies in the first quarter proved too much for the young team to overcome.

Head coach Roy Barker’s squad played tough for the final three quarters – including an even 26-26 with the Fillies in the second half – before falling 59-40 for their first loss of the season.

Senior Jaycey Bardsley paced the Lady Devils with 15 points, followed by Madison Brown with nine points and Emma Lonsway with six points. Sierra Barnes finished the game with four points, while Rhyen Debenham, Kiernynn Simmons and Evie Stahl chipped in two points apiece.

Simmons led the team in rebounding with five, followed by Debenham with four; Simmons also led the team in blocks, with three. Lonsway had four steals to lead the team; Lonsway and Brown each had two assists.

The Lady Devils shot 27% from the floor, compared to 30% for Natrona; Evanston was 56% from the charity stripe (14/25). Natrona won the battle of the boards, 43-34.

Laramie 56,

Lady Devils 21

The Lady Devils ran into a buzzsaw of sorts Friday against the No. 4 Lady Plainsmen, losing 56-21.

Evanston trailed 27-6 at the break, but played better in the second half in the loss. Kiernynn Simmons led the Lady Devils with eight points, followed by seven from Jacey Bardsley and five from Emma Lonsway.

Cheyenne South 47, Lady Devils 26

The Lady Devils closed out the tournament Saturday against Cheyenne South, and after battling the Lady Bison to a 5-5 tie in the first quarter, Evanston outscored their opponent 13-6 in the second to take an 18-11 lead at the break.

It was all South in the second half, as the Lady Bison outscored Evanston 35-8 to win 47-26. Jacey Bardsley paced the Lady Devils with nine points, followed by Madison Brown with six points. Kiernynn Simmons finished with four points, while Emma Lonsway and Braelynn Morrison chipped in three points apiece. Freshman Cassie Barker hit a free throw to round out the scoring for Evanston.