LCCC and Casper College ignite new rivalry in Oil and Rail Series

Laramie County Community College’s men’s and women’s basketball teams are feeling the competitive fire as March 2 approaches. Not only will LCCC’s Golden Eagles be looking to avenge February losses to Casper College in the final games of the regular season; the matchups will mark the inaugural game of the Oil and Rail Series, a new basketball rivalry rich in symbolism and pride where each year one team will hoist a trophy while their counterparts hang their heads in defeat.

The teams last met on Feb. 1 where Casper College’s men’s and women’s teams walked away victorious. Looking to March 2, both of LCCC’s basketball squads are chomping at the bit for a chance to even the season’s tally against Casper College.

“Casper is the team to beat,” said Mattie Jones, a sophomore guard from Torrington on the women’s squad. “We’re looking forward to getting another shot at beating them.”

Jones, who racked up 5 points in the Feb. 1 game, saw her team fall short after nearly mounting a second-half comeback. It showed Jones that her team has what it takes to beat the Thunderbirds; her team just needs to execute.

“That game really showed us we can compete at that level with Casper,” she said. “We just need to put together 40 minutes.”

Standing at 6’10 and averaging 5.4 rebounds per game, men’s sophomore forward Abdullah Mahamed of Foxborough, Massachusetts, said he knows he’ll have to step up and win the battle at the boards to beat Casper. Mahamed, like Jones, knows his team has the tools to beat Casper on March 2. For him, defense will be the key to the game.

“Defense is going to be the biggest factor here,” Mahamed said. “If we keep them under 70 points, then we're going to win.”

The time for mistakes is over, Mahamed said, with the regular season’s last game being a conference game. Players are mindful of what needs to be done and are keeping that mindset in practice, he said. With the new rivalry on the line, Mahamed said he knows it will be a memorable game.

“We hope the fans do come out because I think it’s going to be one of our more intense games,” Mahamed said. “It’s going to be another fun game to watch just because everyone's putting in 100 percent.”

Jones said defense will be key for her squad as well, but highlighted how the offense will have to respond. There’s an edge to the athletes in practice, she said, as their competitive drive heightens.

“We know the level of competition that they're always playing at and they're always going to come to compete,” Jones said. “We need to be prepared for that.”

The Oil and Rail Series celebrates the economic heritage of Cheyenne and Casper — the railroad and mining industries, respectively.

“I was looking for a way to bring more pageantry into LCCC athletics while building on the rivalry already in place between the two biggest cities in Wyoming,” said Austin Rodemaker, LCCC Foundation chief operating officer, envisioning an annual showdown encapsulating more than just sportsmanship. “This is a great way to pay respect to each city’s founding industries.”

LCCC Athletic Director Mark Puev highlighted the positive impact of the initiative on both schools and programs.

“It’s something kind of neat for both schools and the two programs,” Puev said. “I think any time you can put something tangible attached to it, it goes beyond bragging rights. It’s more of a pride and an ownership in what the athletes and teams are doing at both schools.”

The first edition of the Oil and Rail Series will be held on March 2 when LCCC hosts Casper College for the final game of the season. The women are scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. and the men will follow at 4 p.m.

The trophy will be presented to the winning teams after each game, and the current owner of the trophy will be responsible for making sure it is brought to the game each year.

Visit GoLCCC.com for more information.