Behind Lutgen, Camels show passion and mental toughness | Local
Early in the year, the girls’ basketball team at Campbell County High School focused on toughness.
This tenacity – both mentally and physically – was evident at the season opener on Thursday with St. Thomas More from South Dakota.
The Camels started the REMAX / Gillette Invite preseason tournament against one of the most successful basketball programs for girls in South Dakota. Last year’s Cavaliers lost just two games and had the Gatorade Girls Basketball Player of the Year in Haleigh Timmer.
Braidi Lutgen, the basketball coach at New Campbell County High School, cheers on her team for Thursday’s season opener against St. Thomas More at the CCHS.
It was an early test for Braidi Lütgenwho trained in her first game at her alma mater. Lutgen took over long-time coach Mitch Holst in the summer and began her journey to make her own mark on the Campbell County program.
The season opening test against St. Thomas More revealed quite a bit. The camels still have a lot to do in terms of full field defense and offensive shot selection. It showed that Campbell County is a young team that will rely on more than jump shots and quick breaks.
But most importantly, Thursday’s game showed that the Camels have already bought into Lutgen’s new system.
Campbell County High School senior Maddie Jacobson absorbs the contact while attacking the rim in Thursday’s season opener against St. Thomas More at the CCHS.
At 44:39 before the fourth quarter, Campbell County held its own, pulled back and kept the game within reach, eventually bringing the South Dakota powerhouse into overtime. Tie 51-51 in overtime, the Camels fought but eventually fell 60-58 in the final seconds.
Despite the defeat, the camels showed a sense of togetherness that will only increase over the course of the season, said Lütgen.
“It was nice to see a group of girls who love to compete,” said Lutgen. “They all increased in pressure situations. We still have a long way to go, but I’m very happy with where we are now. “
Coaching at university level is no stranger to Lutgen. She was Thunder Basin’s first girl basketball coach when the school opened in 2017 and won a state title with the Bolts in 2019 before stepping down last year.
Campbell County High School freshman Erika Martinez hits the basket in Thursday’s season opener against St. Thomas More at the CCHS.
With only one senior in this year’s team in Maddie Jacobson, The Camels saw a handful of underclassmen rise as they played their first college minutes of their careers. Freshmen Erika Martinez and Kaylie Neary both took on big roles against St. Thomas More and Lutgen expected those roles to grow as the season progresses.
Junior Madison Robertson led the team with 13 points, with junior Millie crack and Neary, who adds 12 points each.
Campbell County High School junior Madison Robertson gets the face of a player from St. Thomas More at CCHS Thursday’s season opener.
The most satisfying part of her first game as coach of the Camels was that her team kept fighting even though she left most of the second half behind. Towards the end of the fourth quarter, Martinez was fouled hard by a St. Thomas More player. Robertson immediately jumped in to defend her teammate.
Campbell County High School senior Remar Pitter cheers for the Camels in Thursday’s season opener against St. Thomas More at CCHS.
“They are tough and have their backs free for each other,” said Lutgen. “It’s going to be a fun team to go to war with.”
The early encounter with a team like St. Thomas More gives Lutgen and the rest of their workforce a good understanding of what the team still has to work on in practice in the future.
The Camels play Evanston at 6pm tonight.
Campbell County High School freshman Erika Martinez drives for a layup during Thursday’s season opener against St. Thomas More at the CCHS.
Campbell County closes the REMAX / Gillette Invite against Cody on Saturday lunchtime at the CCHS.
For CCHS basketball results, visit gillettenewsrecord.com or follow sports editor Alex Taylor on Twitter @ alex_m_taylor22.