CHEYENNE — A big second quarter helped the Cheyenne East boys basketball team pull away from Lander for a 72-52 win the T-Birds’ first game of the Strannigan Invitational on Friday in Riverton.

“Our defensive intensity picked up and we started making shots (in the second quarter),” East coach Rusty Horsley said. “We were missing some easy shots early and we started getting our buckets to fall.”

Freshman Drew Jackson led all scorers with 26 points. Junior guard Garet Schlabs added 13 and Kysar Jolley had 10.

East also picked up a 73-67 overtime win against Jackson. The game was deadlocked 21-21 after the first quarter, but Jackson took a 41-36 halftime lead

“We got better in the second half defensively,” Horsley said. “The kids really started adjusting to what they were doing defensively, started making some shots and put it away. It was really hard work and character that won this game.

“Jackson shot it well and we didn’t, especially in the first half. I’m proud of the kids because everyone stepped up in different situations. This was a pretty awesome win.”

Schlabs led all scorers with 21 points to go with seven assists, four rebounds and four steals. Nathan Mirich chipped in with 14, while Jackson had 12. Colter McAnelly pulled down 10 rebounds, nine points and five steals.

EAST 72, LANDER 52

Lander……………16 9 13 14 — 52

Cheyenne East…..15 22 15 17 — 72

Lander: Ayers 2, Donahue 4, Leclair 5, Bird 5, Guina 10, S. Wheeler 3, McClung 4, Stauffenberg 4, Lopez 12, C. Wheeler 2.

Cheyenne East: McAnelly 6, Schlabs 13, Rayl 0, Mirich 6, Bohlmann 3, Jackson 21, Bishop 2, Hayes 2, Colgan 4, Hardy 3, Pafford 1, Jolley 10.

EAST 73, JACKSON 67, OT

Jackson…… 21 20 14 6 5 – 67

Cheyenne East…… 21 15 21 5 9 – 73

Jackson: Brenner 14, Scott 5, Fowler 4, Larson 5, Hannah 16, Keelan 16, Dawson 3.

Cheyenne East: McAnelly 9, Schlabs 21, Mirich 14, Bohlmann 4, Jackson 12, Bishop 5, Hayes 0, Colgan 2, Hardy 0, Pafford 0, Jolley 6.