RIVERTON -Without leading scorer Lyndzi Rich and her 20.5 points per game the Worland Lady Warriors still dominated three of the four quarters Friday night against the Riverton Lady Wolverines (0-11) at Riverton High School.

Seniors Bailey Gibbons and Charlee Townsend led the way for the Lady Warriors (5-4) scoring with 17 and 11 points, respectively.

"Bailey (Gibbons) played really well in the first quarter, getting us off to a good start and we got good contributions from across the board. We jumped out to that early lead then from there were able to hold it," said WHS girls coach Ben Hofmann.

Playing without their No. 1 scoring option and against an opponent that has yet to find a win, Worland would not let Friday night be a letdown game.

"We talked about it at the beginning of the game that not any one person was going to be able to replace the points and rebounds that Lyndzi brings to our team," said coach Hofmann when talking about the team's focus heading into Friday's game. "We needed contributions from everyone and for everyone to do their jobs and not someone else's. Then collectively as a team we'd be successful, which we did and I thought everyone played well tonight."

Gibbons scored 11 of Worland's 14 first-quarter points and defensively the Lady Warriors only allowed 4 points as they took a 14-4 lead at the end of one.

A 14-4 start is a terrific way to open the game but the defending 3A state champions hit another gear while Riverton was still trying to get out of neutral.

Using their defensive pressure to feed the offense and small spurts the Lady Warriors overwhelmed Riverton 20-7 in the second.

"We turned a lot of defense into offense. We rebound very well which got us into our transition for easy scores. Casey (Wassum) and Bailey (Gibbons) got some steals in our press for some layups. We played pretty well defensively and rebounded the basketball well and that led to some easy opportunities," said coach Hofmann.

Freshman guard BreAnna Parra got the scoring started with a 3-pointer and Townsend kept it going with back-to-back buckets. Much of the quarter Worland used spurts rather than long scoring runs to extend their lead. Scoring three to four baskets to each Riverton basket, the Lady Warriors went into halftime with a 34-11 lead.

In the second half coach Hofmann emptied his bench and the second unit continued to execute the game plan with success, outscoring Riverton 8-5 in the third and only losing the fourth quarter 8-7.

"It got a little sloppy at times but that typically happens. I thought they played really well defensively and played hard and, again, they rebounded the basketball which was our key coming out of halftime. I told them we're in good position here as long as we rebound the basketball in the second half that will win the game. If a shot goes up and misses, we can't give them easy opportunities with second chances. The second unit did really good doing that. They got up and down the floor, played defense, rebounded the basketball and overall did a good job," said coach Hofmann.

Worland had eight out of nine players score and fell just short of their 51.5 points per game average, even with Rich gone, who was attending her sister's wedding.

Next week the Lady Warriors begin conference play with two games scheduled - first a home game on Jan. 19 vs. Hot Springs County High School at 5:30 p.m. and the second Jan. 20 at Rawlins High School at 5:30 p.m.