Basketball season underway

Girls at Upton

The winter sports seasons got underway this past weekend as the Sundance basketball teams participated in the Bobcat Invitational in Upton. Playing three games over the two days, the Lady Bulldogs open their season with a 2-1 record.

Starting off Friday night, the Sundance Lady Bulldogs were matched up against the Hulett Lady Red Devils. Opening play with a full court press, the Lady Bulldogs jumped out to an early lead and only added to it as the game continued.

Nine Lady Bulldogs got into the book on the scoring end as they walked away with a 53-15 victory over the Lady Red Devils. Zoe Skeens led the scoring charge for Sundance, putting in 11 points followed by Savanna Williams who added nine. 

On Saturday, the Lady Bulldogs had a closer matchup with the Riverside Rebels. In a slow start, the Bulldogs found themselves trailing the Rebels 3-11 after the first quarter of play.

Sundance found their groove throughout the second quarter, closing the gap and going into the halftime break down by only two points, 14-16. The second half, unfortunately, began much like the first for the Lady Bulldogs who were once again only able to put in three points for the quarter.

Fortunately, the Bulldog defense was also able to hold the Rebels to six points with a deficit and one quarter of play remaining, the Lady Bulldogs. It was the fourth quarter that proved to be the game changer as the Lady Bulldogs held the Rebels to just three points, and taking a narrow 27-25 victory.

Game three of the Invitational proved to be the toughest for the young Bulldog team. Going up against their hosts, the Upton Lady Bobcats, Sundance struggled to get points on the board.

Trailing by 13 after one quarter of play, the Sundance offense began making strides, but it was not enough to overcome the Lady Bobcats who took the 44-28 victory for the evening. 

The Sundance Lady Bulldogs will participate in the Stateline Shootout this weekend, hosting the Newcastle Dogies on Friday night, and traveling to Lead, SD on Saturday to face the Lead-Deadwood Gold Diggers and the Belle Fourche Broncs. 

Boys at Upton

The Sundance boys' basketball team opened their 2022 season at the Upton Invitational this past weekend. Facing Riverside, Custer (SD) and Upton, the Sundance Bulldogs came out with a 1-2 record. 

Opening play on Friday night the Bulldog boys took on a tough team from South Dakota, the Custer Wildcats. Both sides struggled to find their offense as the score was 6-5 in favor of the Bulldogs after the first quarter of play.

With eight minutes under their belts, the Wildcats began to warm up and put some points on the board and pull away with the lead, despite the Bulldog's efforts on defense. Going into the break, Sundance found themselves down by 10 points, 16-26.

A slight comeback within the third quarter helped the Bulldogs close the gap, but it was not enough to overcome the powerful Wildcat offense and the Bulldogs fell in their opening game, 39-51. 

Heading back to Upton on Saturday, the Sundance Bulldogs split their games, taking a 51-38 victory over the Riverside Rebels, and falling to the Upton Bobcats 57-42. 

The Sundance Bulldogs will have one more round robin tournament before the holiday break as they host Newcastle Dogies on Friday night and travel to Lead, SD on Saturday to face the Lead-Deadwood Gold Diggers and Belle Fourche Broncs for the Stateline Shootout.

Stats

SHS Girls – 28, Upton – 44:

Scoring: Mills 10 (5/7 FT, 1/3 3pt), Williams 7 (1/2 FT, 1/2 3pt), L. Marchant 7 (3/6 FT), Skeens 2 (0/2 FT), Banker 2 (2/2 FT)

Rebound Leaders: Mills 6, Williams 5, Skeens 5, Banker 5

Steal Leaders: L. Marchant 4, Williams 2, R. Marchant 2, Skeens2

SHS Girls – 27, Riverside – 25:

Scoring: Skeens 9 (6/11 FT, 1/10 3pt) R. Marchant 6 (0/1 FT, 2/4 3pt), Williams 3 (1/3 3pt), Mills 2 (0/1 FT, 0/3 3pt), L. Marchant 3 (1/4 FT), Jones 2 (0/6 FT, 0/1 3pt), Gillespie 2 (01/FT, 0/1 3pt)

Rebound Leaders: Mills 10, R. Marchant 7, Gillespie 6

Steal leaders: Skeens 8, Gillespie 3

SHS Girls – 53, Hulett – 15

Scoring: Skeens 11 (3/9 3pt), Williams 9 (1/3 3pt), Mills 8 (0/1 FT, 0/2 3pt), L. Marchant 8 (2/2 FT, 0/1 3pt), Gillespie 5 (1/4 3pt), Gill 4 (2/4 FT), R. Marchant 3 (0/ 2FT, 1/2 3pt), Jones 3 (1/2 FT, 0/1 3pt), Banker 2 (2/2 FT)

Rebound Leaders: Mills 6, Williams 5

Steal Leaders: Skeens 7, R. Marchant 4

SHS Boys – 39, Custer – 51

SHS Boys – 51, Riverside – 38

SHS Boys – 42, Upton – 57

Full boys' stats were not available.