Lady Bulldogs take fourth at State

The Sundance Lady Bulldogs finished their basketball season with a fourth-place finish in the 2A State Tournament this past weekend. Going into the tournament the number two seed from the east, the Lady Bulldogs opened play against the number three seed from the west, the Riverside Rebels.

It was a low scoring game in the opening round as the Bulldogs put up seven points to the Rebels' 14 in the first half of play. With the second half underway, Sundance began to get comfortable and put some points on the board.

Chipping away at the Rebels' lead, the Bulldogs were able to outscore Riverside 12-2 in the fourth quarter, tying the score at 25 as time ran out. The momentum was in the Bulldogs favor as overtime got underway and Sundance took a narrow 32-30 victory over the Rebels. Seniors Bailey Hofland and Cana McInerney led the charge for the Bulldogs, scoring 14 and 10 points respectively. 

The next round of play brought another tough team to the court, the Rocky Mountain Grizzlies. The two teams kept the score close throughout the game.

Sundance took the early lead after one quarter of play but Rocky Mountain was right there and went into the halftime break with a 18-16 advantage. Another run by the Bulldogs put them up throughout the second half of play, but the Grizzlies would not quit and were able to overcome the Bulldogs in the final minutes with a 35-32 victory.

"The Rocky Mountain game was a tough game," senior Bulldog Cana McInerney stated. "Going into it we knew we had to give it our all and that's what every single person did when they were on the court. We did come up short but in my eyes everyone worked so hard and I'm so proud of everyone and couldn't have asked for more."

With a loss to the Grizzlies, the Bulldogs' final game of the season would be for third or fourth place and they would have to overcome yet another strong team, the Wyoming Indian Lady Chiefs.

"The third- and fourth-place game was a game I don't think anyone thought they would ever play in. Between the atmosphere of the crowd and the great basketball that went on, it was just a great experience," McInerney stated.

The Lady Chiefs jumped out to a commanding 20-4 lead in the first quarter of play. That margin, however, did not deter the Lady Bulldogs.

The momentum began to shift as McInerney led the Bulldogs scoring charge throughout the second and third quarters. Scoring 17 points for the night, McInerney would help to pull the Bulldogs within five points and one quarter of play remaining.

It was another down to the wire game. Every player on the Sundance team left everything they had on the floor. Unfortunately, seven points separated the Lady Bulldogs from the Lady Chiefs who took the third-place finish with a 45-38 victory.

"Overall, I'm very proud of how our state week went," McInerney stated, "and I'm very proud of how much effort everyone put into this weekend. Least to say, it's a great day to be a Bulldog!"

The Lady Bulldogs finished their season finishing fourth place in the 2A state tournament. Bulldogs Cana McInerney and Bailey Hofland also earned All-State honors. 

Stats

SHS vs. Riverside: 32-30

Scoring: Ba. Hofland 14 (4/7 FT), McInerney 10 (¾ FT, ¼ 3pt), Skeens 4 (½ FT, 1/7 3pt), Gillespie 2 (0/1 FT, 0/1 3pt), R. Marchant 1 (½ FT, 0/3 3pt), Br. Hofland 1 (1/1 FT)

Rebound Leaders: McInerney 7, Skeens 6, Br. Hofland 6

Assists: Gillespie 2, Skeens 2

Steals: Skeens 4, Br. Hofland 2

SHS vs. Rocky Mountain: 32-35

Scoring: Ba. Hofland 11 (7/7 FT), McInerney 9 (5/6 FT, 0/5 3pt), L. Marchant 4 (4/4 FT), R. Marchant 4 (2/2 FT, 0/1 3pt), Gillespie 3 (1/2 3pt), Br. Hofland 1 (1/2 FT)

Rebound Leaders: McInerney 10, Ba. Hofland 5

Steals: Skeens 3

SHS vs. Wyoming Indian: 38-45

Scoring: McInerney 17 (7/11 FT, 0/3 3pt), Skeens 9 (1/2 FT, 2/10 3pt), Ba. Hofland 8 (2/4 FT), L. Marchant 4

Rebound Leaders: Ba. Hofland 9, McInerney 7, L. Marchant 6

Steals: McInerney 4, L. Marchant 2, Br. Hofland 2