Sundance teams take on Stateline Shootout

Lady Bulldogs

The Sundance Lady Bulldogs competed in the Stateline Shootout this past weekend, going up against the Newcastle Dogies, Lead/Deadwood Gold Diggers and the Belle Fourche Broncs. Opening play on Thursday in Newcastle, the Lady Bulldogs faced a tough Lady Dogie team.

The Lady Bulldogs were able to keep the score close throughout the first quarter of play but, as the half wore on, the Dogies began to break away. Outscoring the Bulldogs 18-3 in the second quarter, the Dogies a 29-10 lead into the break.

The slump continued into the second half as the Lady Bulldogs had no answer for Newcastle’s Jaylen Ostenson, who went on to score 31 points for the Doggies for the night in their 53-26 victory over the Lady Bulldogs.

On Friday, the Lady Bulldogs crossed the border to take on the Lead/Deadwood Gold Diggers. Jumping out to a 17-7 lead after one quarter of play, the Lady Bulldogs were on the right track.

The second quarter was a back and forth between the two teams, neither being able to put any points on the board, and the Bulldogs maintained their lead into the break. The second half seemed to mirror the first with the Lady Bulldogs controlling the score.

Senior Cana McInerney led the way for the Bulldogs, putting in a season high 19 points as well as pulling down six rebounds and walking away with seven steals. The Bulldogs would go on to beat the Gold Diggers 36-20.

The final game of the Stateline Shootout pitted the Lady Bulldogs against the Lady Broncs of Belle Fourche. Historically a tough team, the Lady Broncs did not disappoint again this year.

Keeping the Lady Bulldogs scoreless in the first quarter, the Lady Broncs would go on to take a 27-7 lead into the halftime break. The Lady Bulldogs were able to put some points on the board throughout the second half of play, chipping away at the Lady Broncs lead, but the first quarter deficit seemed to be too much for them to overtake and the Lady Broncs left with the 44-24 victory over the Lady Bulldogs.

The Lady Bulldogs will go into the holiday break with a 4-3 overall record and will host the Powder River Conference games on Jan. 7-8.

Bulldog Boys

The Sundance boys’ basketball team picked up another win over the weekend as they participated in the Stateline Shootout in Lead, SD. 

Opening play for the Bulldogs began in Newcastle against the Dogies on Thursday. As the first quarter drew to a close, the Bulldogs found themselves trailing the Dogies by one point.

That slight deficit seemed to be the story for the rest of the night as the Bulldogs continued to be just out of reach at the end of each quarter.

“We struggled to execute plays and handle their ball pressure,” head coach Nick Olson stated. Those struggles allowed the Dogies to come away with a 59-47 victory over the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs were in Lead on Friday facing the Lead-Deadwood Gold Diggers. It was another slow start for the Bulldogs as they were neck and neck with the Gold Diggers after the first half of play.

Down by two (23-25) at the start of the second half, the Bulldogs began to put things together. Outscoring the Diggers 11-2 in the third quarter, Sundance was able to create a comfortable cushion going into the fourth where they secured a 56-36 victory over the Gold Diggers.

Senior Gunner McLaughlin led the Bulldogs in scoring with 25 points.

Saving the best for last, the Bulldogs were up against the Belle Fourche Broncs in their final matchup of the Stateline Shootout. It was a game of back and forth as the two teams found themselves tied at 21 going into the half.

The Broncs took a two-point lead at the end of the third quarter, but the Bulldogs were able to stick right with them throughout the fourth, tying the score at 37 and sending the game into overtime. The game continued to be down to the wire in overtime as the teams exchanged baskets.

In the end, it was the Broncs who would make the final basket to defeat the Bulldogs 44-42 in overtime. “We battled the whole game. It could have ended either way down the stretch but they hit a shot at the buzzer in overtime to get us,” Coach Olson commented.

Bulldog Gunner McLaughlin ended the overtime loss with a double double, scoring 29 points and securing 16 rebounds for the game, a season high in both categories.

The Bulldogs move to a 4-3 record for the season and will be back on the hardwood on January 6th as they travel to Newell to face the Irrigators. They will also play host to the Powder River Conference on Jan. 7-8.

Boys Stats

SHS vs. Newcastle 47-59

Scoring: Rudloff 14 (3/7 FT, 1/9 3pt), Mills 14 (2/4 ft, 0/1 3pt), McLaughlin 9 (3/3 FT, 2/6 3pt), Fleenor 6 (0/2 FT), Harmon 2 (0/2 3pt), D. Gill 2 (0/1 FT)

Rebound Leaders: Rudloff 13, Harmon 6, Mills 6, McLaughlin 5

Assists: D. Gill 3, Mills 3

Steals: Fleenor 2

SHS vs. Lead Deadwood 56-36

Scoring: McLaughlin 25 (6/8 FT, 3/7 3pt), Rudloff 16 (3/6 FT, 3/10 3pt), Mills 8 (1/2 FT, 1/2 3pt), D. Gill 4, Schommer 2 (0/1 3pt), Fleenor 1 (1/2 FT)

Rebound leaders: McLaughlin 5, Rudloff 3

Assists: Harmon 3, Rudloff 3

Steals: McLaughlin 3, Rudloff 3

SHS vs. Belle Fourche 42-44 (OT)

Scoring: McLaughlin 29 (11/18 FT, 2/4 3pt), Harmon 5 (1/1 3pt), Mills 4 (0/2 3pt) Skeens 3 (1/1 3pt), Rudloff 2 (0/2 3pt), 

Rebound Leaders: McLaughlin 16, Rudloff 5, Mills 5

Steals: Harmon 2, Rudloff 2, Mills 2, 

Blocks: Mills 2

Girls Stats

SHS vs. Newcastle: 26-53

Scoring: Ba. Hofland 11 (3/7 FT), Skeens 8 (1/5 FT, 1/2 3pt), McInerney 3 (1/3 3pt), Banker 2, Williams 2 (0/1 3pt)

Rebound Leaders: McInerney 8, Ba. Hofland 6, Br. Hofland 4

SHS vs. Lead 36-20

Scoring: McInerney 19 (3/4 FT, 2/5 3pt), Skeens 7 (1/3 3pt), Ba. Hofland 5 (1/3 FT), Marchant 2 (0/1 3pt), Gillespie 2

Rebound Leaders: McInerney 6, Ba. Hofland 4, Br. Hofland 3

Steals: McInerney 7, Skeens 4, Marchant 3, Gillespie 3

Assist 2

SHS vs. Belle Fourche 44-24

Scoring: Br. Hofland 8 (2/2 3pt), Skeens 7 (¾ FT 0/1 3pt), McInerney 5 (1/1 3pt), Ba. Hofland 2 (2/4 FT), Marchant 2 (2/6 FT)

Rebound Leaders: McInerney 5, Gillespie 4, Jones 2, Ba. Hofland 2

Steals: McInerney 3, Skeens 2, Marchant 2

Blocks: Ba Hofland 2, Br. Hofland 2