Lady Bulldog basketball season begins

The Sundance Lady Bulldogs opened their season at the Upton Invitational this past weekend. In the opening round of play, the Bulldogs played the Riverside Rebels.

It was a slow start for both the Rebels and the Bulldogs. As the first quarter of play wound down, the Bulldogs found themselves holding on to a 10-7 lead.

The Rebels came alive in the second quarter behind the three-point shooting of Victory Buck, who sunk four from behind the arc, allowing the Rebels to take the one-point lead into the break. The Rebels continued to have the hot hand from behind the arc into the second half throwing down four more before the final buzzer rang.

Sundance however stayed right with them behind the scoring of Sherry Negaard, who was able to put in 13 points for the game. In the end, the Lady Rebels were able to take the 45-41 victory.

Sundance moved to the elementary gym for their second game against the Ten Sleep Pioneers. This game was decided early as the Bulldogs dashed out to an 11-0 lead before the Pioneers got on the board, in the second quarter. Sophomore Bailey Hofland was a force to be reckoned with, scoring 16 points for the Bulldogs in their 42-18 victory over Ten Sleep.

The last game of the Invitational brought Sundance against Arvada-Clearmont for the consolation championship. The Bulldogs jumped out to a commanding 24-9 lead and didn’t look back, taking the 46-35 victory. Cana McInerney led the Bulldogs in scoring with 11 points, going 4 for 6 at the line.

When asked about how her team played throughout the Invitational, head coach Joni Ellsbury had this to say: “I was pleased to see what we looked like first game out. We changed our style of play and I wasn’t sure how it was going to come together but I thought we looked good and played as a team.”

The Lady Bulldogs will be back in action on December 19-21 during the Stateline Shootout. Sundance will host the Newcastle Dogies on the 19th and face Lead-Deadwood and Belle Fourche in Newcastle on December 20 and 21.

Stats:

Sundance vs. Riverside 41-45

Scoring: Ba. Hofland 11 (1/3FT) Negaard 11 (3/4FT), McInerney 6 (0/2FT), Marcahnt 4, Gill 4, Heaster 3 (2/2FT), Br Hofland 1 (1/2FT)

Stat Leaders:

Rebounds: McInerney 10, Negaard 7, Ba. Hofland 7

Steals: Br. Hofland 4, Marchant 4, Heaster 4

Assists: Negaard 3

Sundance vs. Ten Sleep 42-18

Scoring: Ba Hofland 16, Negaard 6 (1/2FT), Marchant 4, Heaster 4, McInerney 4, Amann 4, Speidel 2, Br Hofland 2

Stat Leaders:

Rebounds: Ba Hofland 7

Steals: Ba Hofland 3

Assists: McINerney 3, Amann 3, Negaard 3

Sundance vs. Arvada Clearmont 46-35

Scoring: McInerney 11 (4/6FT), Br Hofland 8, Negaard 8, Ba. Hofland 5 (1/4FT), Marchant 4 (4/8FT), Heaster 4, Flahaven 2, Gillespie 2, Gill 2 (0/2FT)