Boys finish conference play on top

SHS Boys

Ending their regular season on the road, the Sundance Bulldogs picked up three more wins to bring a near perfect regular season to a close with a 16-1 overall record.

The Wright Panthers were no match for the Sundance Bulldogs on Thursday night as ten Bulldogs contributed to the scoring column. Gunner McLaughlin and Landon Martin were both in double digits for the Bulldogs helping the team come away with the commanding 66-29 victory. 

Friday evening brought the number one team in the conference to Moorcroft. Jumping out to a 13-6 lead after one quarter of play, the Bulldogs hit a slump throughout the second quarter and found themselves down by two, 21-23, going into the halftime break.

A slow first half did not deter the Bulldogs however, as they came out in the second half stronger than ever. It was a balanced scoring effort by the Bulldogs, led by senior Lane Gill who scored 19 points and pulled down 12 rebounds on the night.

Gill’s double double powered the Bulldogs 61-49 victory, helping to secure their undefeated conference season and a number one seed in the district tournament.

The final game of regular season play put the Bulldogs against the Hulett Red Devils. In another great team effort, the Bulldogs took the 77-37 non-conference victory over the Red Devils. 

“It was a good final weekend of the regular season, we played some solid team basketball and were able to come away with three wins,” head coach Nick Olson stated. “We definitely have some things to polish up before Thursday but the boys are locked in and focused for our upcoming post-season games.”

The Sundance Bulldogs will enter post season play as the #1 seed in the District Tournament. The Bulldogs will open up play at 1:30 p.m. as they face the #4 team, the Moorcroft Wolves. Tongue River and Big Horn will play the #2 vs. #3 game at 3:30 p.m. followed by the championship game at 7 p.m.

The Regional seeding tournament will take place on Saturday in Big Horn with games starting at 11:30 a.m. All games can be found on the NFHS network.

SHS Girls

It was a busy weekend for the Sundance Lady Bulldogs as they hit the road for their last three regular season games. Going up against the Wright Panthers Thursday evening, three Lady Bulldogs found their way into double digits in the 61-20 victory.

Aftyn Marchant led the way with 13, followed closely by teammates Cana McInerney who added 12 and Nevada Gill who contributed 10. 

The Lady Bulldogs were back in action on Friday as they travelled to Moorcroft for their final conference game of the season. Moorcroft jumped out to a quick 17-7 lead after the first quarter of play, but the Bulldogs righted their ship to start the second and began chipping away at the score.

Being a self-proclaimed second half team, the Lady Bulldogs had their work cut out. Down by 10 at the start of the third quarter, 14-24, Sundance began to make their run.

With eight Bulldogs contributing to the scoring, it was a truly balanced team effort as Sundance outscored the Wolves throughout the second half. Unfortunately, for the Bulldogs the clock ran out before they could overtake the number one team in the state, and the Wolves took the final conference victory, 50-46.

There was little time to dwell on the loss to Moorcroft as the Bulldogs were back on the road Saturday to face another county foe, the Hulett Red Devils, on Saturday. A scoreless first quarter for the Red Devils put the Bulldogs up 18-0 at the end of the first quarter.

Things slowed down for both teams throughout the second quarter as the Red Devils were on the board with 4 points, while the Bulldogs only added 2. The second half didn’t fare much better for the Devils as Sundance continued to add points to the board, bringing eleven Bulldogs into the scoring column as they took the 43-14 victory.

Sherry Negaard and Cana McInerney led the charge for the Bulldogs putting in 9 points each for the night. 

The Sundance Lady Bulldogs end their regular season play with a 10-7 overall record and 6-2 in the conference. The Lady Bulldogs will begin postseason play on Thursday in Wright. They will come into the District Tournament as the #2 team and will be up against the #3 team, Tongue River Eagles. Tipoff is set for 3:30 p.m., with the championship game to follow at 7 p.m.

The Regional seeding tournament will take place on Saturday in Big Horn with games starting at 11:30 a.m. All games can be found on the NFHS network.

Stats from the games:

SHS Boys vs. Wright: 66-29

Scoring: McLaughlin 14 (4/10 FT, 2/3 3 pt.), Martin 13 (7/7 FT, 0/1 3 pt.), Gillespie 8 (2/3 FT), Gill 7 (1/3 3 pt.), Rudloff 7 (1/4 3 pt.), Davis 5 (5/8 FT), Kammerer 4 (0/2 FT, 0/1 3 pt.), Harmon 3 (1/3 FT), Jenerou 3 (3/3 FT), Kruger 2 (0/2 3 pt.)

Rebound Leaders: Harmon 6, Jenerou 6

Assist Leaders: Kruger 2, Martin 2

Steal Leaders: McLaughlin 5, Kruger 3, Martin 3, Rudloff 3

SHS Boys vs. Moorcroft: 61-49

Scoring: Gill 19 (3/4 FT, 2/7 3 pt.), McLaughlin 18 (3/9 FT,1/3 3 pt.), Martin 12 (2/4 FT, 0/3 3 pt.), Rudloff 8 (2/3 FT, 0/1 3 pt.), Gillespie 2 (0/2 FT, 0/1 3 pt.), Kruger 2 (0/1 FT, 0/3 3 pt.)

Rebound Leaders: Gill 12, McLaughlin 6

Assist Leaders: Gill 5, McLaughlin 2, Rudloff 2, Martin 2

Steal Leaders: McLaughlin 3, Rudloff 3, Martin 3

SHS Boys vs. Hulett: 77-37

Scoring: Kurger 16 (4/5 3 pt.), McLaughlin 12 (6/10 FT, 0/3 3 pt.), Gill 11 (2/2 FT 1/3 3 pt.), Martin 8, Rudloff 8 (1/1 FT, 1/1 3 pt.), Jenerou 6 (1/1 FT, 1/1 3 pt.), Gillespie 5 (1/1 3 pt.), Kammerer 4 (1/2 FT, 1/1 3 pt.), La. Martin 2, Davis 2, Harmon 2, Fleenor 1 (1/2 FT),

Rebound Leaders: Gillespie 6, McLaughlin 4, Gill 3, Martin 3

Assist Leaders: Martin 3, McLaughlin 2, Kammerer 2, Rudloff 2

Steal Leaders: Kruger 5, Martin 3, Rudloff 3, Gill 3

SHS Girls vs. Wright: 61-20

Scoring: A. Marchant 13 (3/3 3 pt.), McInerney 12 (2/2 3 pt.), Gill 10 (2/3 3 pt.), Ba. Hofland 9 (3/5 FT), Negaard 8, Williams 4, Br. Hofland 1 (1/2 FT), BiFulco 1 (1/2 FT)

Rebound Leaders: Williams 9, Ba. Hofland 9, Negaard 6, McInerney 6

Assist Leaders: Heaster 2

Steal Leader: Heaster 4, A. Marchant 3, McInerney 3

SHS Girls vs. Moorcroft: 46-50

Scoring: Gill 9 (0/2 FT, 3/4 3 pt.), Negaard 8 (1/2 FT, 1/4 3 pt.), Heaster 8 (1/2 FT, 1/1 3 pt.), Ba Hofland 8 (4/7 FT), Skeens 5 (1/1 3 pt.), L. Marchant 3 (1/2 FT), A. Marchant 3 (1/2 FT), McInerney 2 (0/1 3 pt.)

Rebound Leaders: Heaster 6, McInerney 6

Assist Leaders: Negaard 3, Gill 2, Heaster 2

Steal Leaders: Heaster 2, Gill 2, Negaard 2, McInerney 2

SHS Girls vs. Hulett: 43-14

Scoring: Negaard 9 (1/2 3 pt.), McInereny 9 (2/2 FT, 1/2 3 pt.), Ba. Hofland 6 (2/2 FT), Heaster (2/2FT, 1/2 3 pt.), Gillespie 3 (1/2FT, 0/1 3 pt.), A. Marchant 2 (0/1 FT, 0/3 3 pt.), Br. Hofland (0/1 3 pt.), Gill 2 (2/2 FT, 0/5 3 pt.), Bifulco 2 (0/1 3 pt.), L. Marchant 2 (0/2 FT), Jones 1 (1/2 FT, 0/1 3 pt.)

Rebound Leaders: Negaard 5, Br. Hofland 3

Assist Leaders: L. Marchant 2, A. Marchant 2

Steal Leaders: Heaster 4, A. Marchant 3