Boys remain undefeated in conference play

SHS Boys

The Bulldog boys basketball team continued to add to the winning column this weekend, defeating two conference teams, the Moorcroft Wolves and Tongue River Eagles, as well as a non-conference team, the Lusk Tigers.

Thursday night brought the Moorcroft Wolves to Sundance in a game that started out neck and neck for the intra-county rivals. Both teams pushed the ball down the floor and were able to find their way to the basket, keeping the score close, 14-13 in favor of the Bulldogs after one quarter of play.

It was the second quarter, however, that belonged to the Bulldogs as they went on a 9-0 run before the Wolves could get themselves back on the board with a made free throw by Zane Linder. That would be the only point scored for the Wolves in the second quarter and Sundance took a 27-14 lead into the locker room.

The Bulldogs continued to put points up on the board throughout the second half as Gunner McLaughlin led the charge scoring 16 points for the night, followed by Landon Martin who contributed 12 as the Bulldogs defeated the Wolves 55-34.

An undefeated conference rival, the Tongue River Eagles, came to play on Friday night for the Sundance boys basketball team. The Eagles unblemished record did not deter the Bulldogs from being first on the board behind the scoring of Lane Gill and Gunner McLaughlin who brought the Bulldogs through the first quarter with a 14-8 lead.

The second quarter saw the Eagles step up their pressure, making the Bulldogs fight for every shot as it was a back and forth of points until the Eagles took a 6-0 run as the half ran down. Despite the run, the Bulldogs maintained a seven-point lead, 27-20, into the break. 

The second half saw evenly matched play between the two teams as each side was able to string together a short run before the other could answer. At the end of three quarters of play the Bulldogs maintained their eight-point lead, 41-33.

The fourth quarter found Sundance starting to pull away as the Eagles did not have an answer for the Bulldog’s man in the middle, Gunner McLaughlin. Scoring 21 points for the night, McLaughlin helped the Bulldogs hand the Tongue River Eagles their first loss of the season, in a 58-44 victory. 

After two home conference wins, the Bulldogs travelled to Lusk on Saturday to face the Tigers. In another close start, the Bulldogs only found themselves up by two, 13-11 after the first quarter of play.

A slump in the Tiger scoring allowed Sundance to build a slight lead, 34-19, going into the half. The second half found the Bulldogs adding on their lead behind the three-point shooting of Landon Martin.

Martin finished the game with 21 points while six other teammates joined him in the scoring column as the Bulldogs walked away with the 64-44 victory. 

“It was a good weekend of games, it’s always tough when you play 3 games in 3 days but the boys stepped up to the challenge and were able to get the job done.” Coach Olson commented. “We played really good defensively over the weekend holding all teams below their season average, and were able to capitalize on the offensive end.”

With the three wins this weekend the Sundance boys improved their record to 4-0 in the conference and 11-1 overall. The Bulldogs will be back in action on Saturday as they travel to face the Tongue River Eagles.

SHS Girls

It was a busy weekend of conference play for the Lady Bulldogs, splitting their games against the Moorcroft Lady Wolves and the Tongue River Lady Eagles. The Lady Bulldogs also took to the road for a non-conference game against the Lusk Tigers.

Closing up the home conference games this weekend the Sundance Lady Bulldogs hosted the Moorcroft Lady Wolves on Thursday night in an always tough intra county conference rival game. The Lady Bulldogs were on the board first with a free throw by Cana McInerney followed by a quick basket by Sherry Negaard, but the Lady Wolves weren’t far behind.

Sinking a few shots of their own, the Lady Wolves were able to tie the score at 7 fairly quickly. The first half of play then became a back and forth of shots as the teams kept the score close until halfway through the second quarter when the Lady Wolves started to pick up the pace.

Talissa Fischbach and Kyanna Petz got Moorcroft rolling as they sank a couple threes to widen the gap 17-9. A timeout was called by the Lady Bulldogs but the Lady Wolves kept the momentum into the break leading the Bulldogs 29-16.

Third quarter became a battle of the threes as Nevada Gill, Sherry Negaard and Baillee Heaster each found the basket from behind the arc for the Bulldogs. As the points seemed to be raining down for the Bulldogs, the Lady Wolves made sure to get themselves on the board to counter the Bulldog scoring and maintain their lead, 40-28 into the 4th quarter.

Down by 12 with eight minutes left to play, the Lady Bulldogs were determined to close the gap. Opening up the quarter with another three, the Bulldogs went on a 12-2 run to bring them within two points of the Lady Wolves, 40-42.

“We definitely are a second half team, it just took us a bit to warm up,” senior Baillee Heaster commented.

Steals and hustle plays by the defense turned into points for the Bulldog offense.

“It feels like your body is on fire when you get a defensive steal and that really helps our offense to get moving,” stated Aftyn Marchant, who led the Lady Bulldogs with six steals on the night.

The Lady Wolves however weren’t done scoring yet. Kailee Gill and Kyanna Petz both scored from behind the arc to increase the lead 48-42. Down by six, the Bulldog defense stepped it up one more time coming away with two defensive stops on the inbounds play and taking it to the hoop for another score.

With 32 seconds remaining and down by three, the Lady Bulldog defense was all in. However, a defensive foul sent Moorcroft’s Camlyn Connally to the line where she made one of two free throws and gave the Lady Wolves a four-point victory, 49-45.

The Lady Bulldogs hosted another conference rival on Friday as they went up against the Tongue River Eagles. The Lady Eagles came into the game with a tough defensive effort shutting down the outside shots. Sundance however was undeterred as they began pushing the ball inside to Cana McInerney and Bailey Hofland, who together scored 18 of the 27 points in the first half, putting the Lady Bulldogs up 27-15.

Using the clock to their advantage in the 3rd quarter, the Bulldogs slowed things down and worked their offense. Their offense became the best defense as the Lady Bulldogs held onto the ball most the quarter, only allowing the Eagles to score four points throughout the third quarter.

As the final quarter of play began the Eagles stepped up their defensive pressure and made the Bulldogs work for every point they got. Fortunately for the Bulldogs they continued to make their shots and put points on the board as they walked away with a 42-25 conference victory over the Eagles.

The final game of the weekend brought the Lady Bulldogs to Lusk to face off against the Lady Tigers. Since the Lady Bulldogs are no stranger to tough competition they were ready for another tight battle.

It was a slow start for the Lady Bulldogs as Lusk jumped out to a quick 13-6 lead after one quarter of play, but the Lady Bulldogs started to close the gap throughout the second, finding themselves only down by eight, 20-12, going into the halftime break.

The second half saw the Lady Bulldogs working their magic as their defensive effort slowed the Lady Tiger scoring, while the Bulldog offense continued to put points on the board and close the gap. Unfortunately the final quarter of play brought the Lady Bulldogs close but time ran out before they were able to take the lead and the Lady Bulldogs fell to the Lady Tigers 32-36.

The Lady Bulldogs will host another non-conference team when the Harding County Ranchers come to town on Thursday night. The team will also travel to face the Eagles for another conference game on Saturday afternoon.

Stats from the games:

SHS Boys vs. Moorcroft 55-34

Scoring: McLaughlin 16 (2/4 3 pt.), Martin 12 (1/2 FT, 1/4 3 pt.), Rudloff 8 (0/3 3 pt.), Gill 7 (1/4 3 pt.), Kruger 7 (1/5 3 pt.) Gillespie 3 (1/2 3 pt.), Kammerer 2

Rebound Leaders: Gill 9, Gillespie 7, McLaughlin 5

Steal Leaders: Kruger 4, Martin 3, McLaughlin 3

Assist Leaders: Kammerer 3, Gill 3

SHS Boys vs. Tongue River 58-44

Scoring: McLaughlin 21 (1/3 FT, 4/4 3 pt.), Gill 18 (3/4 FT, 3/4 3 pt.), Martin 11 (3/8 3 pt.), Rudloff 5 (1/2 FT, 0/1 3 pt.), Gillespie 3 (1/2 FT)

Rebound Leaders: Gillespie 4, Gill 4, Martin 4

Steal Leaders: Martin 3, Gill 4, Gillespie 3

Assist Leaders: Kruger 5, Martin 4

SHS Boys vs. Lusk: 64-44

Scoring: Martin 21 (1/2 FT, 4/8 3 pt.), McLaughlin 15 (7/9FT, 0/3 3 pt.), Gill 10 (0/1 FT, 0/3 3 pt.), Kruger 6 (2/3 FT, 0/4 3 pt.), Gillespie 6 (0/1 3 pt.) Kammerer 4, Jenerou 2 (0/1 FT)

Rebound Leaders: Gillespie 7, McLaughlin 6, Gill 6

Steal Leaders: Gillespie 3, Gill 3, Rudloff 3

SHS Girls vs. Moorcroft 45-49

Scoring: Gill 12 (1/2 FT, 3/9 3 pt.), Negaard 12 (1/2 FT, 1/6 3 pt.), Heaster 9 (3/7 3 pt.) A. Marchant 4 (0/4 3 pt.), McInerney 4 (1/2 FT, 1/2 3 pt.) B. Hofland 2, L. Marchant 2

Rebound Leaders: Negaard 7, McInerney 4, Gill 4

Steal Leaders: A. Marchant 6, Heaster 4

Assist Leader: Heaster 5, Negaard 4

SHS Girls vs. Tongue River: 42-25

Scoring: McInerney 17 (1/1 FT, 2/3 3 pt.), Negaard 6 (0/3 3 pt.), Ba. Hofland 6, A. Marchant 5 (1/1 3 pt.), Heaster 4, Gill 4 (0/1 3 pt.)

Rebound Leaders: Negaard 5, McInerney 5, Heaster 5

Steal Leader: Heaster 6

Assist Leaders: Negaard 2, Heaster 2

SHS Girls vs. Lusk: 32-36

Scoring: Negaard 7 (3/6 FT), McInerney 7 (1/2 FT), Heaster 5 (1/1 3 pt.) Ba Hofland 5 (5/8 FT), A. Marchant 5 (1/2 FT), Gill 3 (1/1 3 pt.)

Rebound Leaders: Negaard 10, Ba. Hofland 7, Heaster 7

Steal Leader: A. Marchant 3

Assist Leader: L. Marchant 1, Negaard 1, McInerney 1, A. Marchant 1