Basketball season gets underway

SHS Boys

The Sundance boys’ basketball team opened their 2023-24 season in Upton this past weekend, taking part in the Upton Classic. The Sundance Bulldogs went up against three 1A teams over the course of the two days.

On Friday, the Bulldogs were paired with Riverside and easily walked away with a 50-23 victory over the Rebels. The Sundance team used their defense to help control the momentum of the game; scoring 25 points off of Rebel turnovers and securing 27 defensive rebounds throughout the 32 minutes of play.

On Saturday the Bulldogs were up against Meeteetse and Upton. Opening play against the Meeteetse Longhorns, the Bulldogs once again got off to a great start, taking 28-12 lead into the halftime break. The Longhorns mounted a slight comeback throughout the third quarter but the Bulldogs were able to hold on for a 51-32 victory.

Keaton Mills and Parker Skeens led the offensive charge for the Bulldogs, scoring 19 and 15 points respectively.

To close the weekend, the Sundance Bulldogs faced a friendly foe, the Upton Bobcats. The teams traded point for point throughout the first quarter, ending the first eight minutes of play, tied, at 16. Upton began to pull away within the second quarter as the Bulldogs suffered a scoring drought, putting only five points on the board throughout the quarter, and going into the halftime break trailing, 21-27.

The score remained close throughout the second half, but the Sundance team could not overtake the Bobcats and fell 36-46 to end the weekend play.

The Bulldogs will participate in the Stateline Shootout next week facing the Newcastle Dogies on Thursday, in Newcastle, and travel to Belle Fourche on Friday. 

SHS Girls

The Sundance Lady Bulldogs opened their basketball season participating in the Upton Classic over the weekend. Facing Riverside, Meeteetse, and Upton, the Lady Bulldogs came away with two wins to start their season.

It was a slow start in the opening game as the Lady Bulldogs took on the Riverside Rebels. A slow start in the first half left the Bulldogs hoping to up their momentum throughout the second half. The Sundance team did just that as the third quarter got underway.

Extending their lead throughout the second half, the Lady Bulldogs put some space between the Rebels and themselves. Jaylin Mills led the offensive charge, putting up 14 points for the night, as the Bulldogs came away with a 49-26 victory over the Rebels.

Day two of the Classic put the Lady Bulldogs against the Meeteetse Longhorns and the Upton Bobcats. Facing the Longhorns first, the Lady Bulldogs once again struggled to get the offense rolling. Holding a slight lead going into the final quarter of play the Lady Bulldogs found their offensive momentum and outscored the Longhorns to take a 48-27 victory. Once again Jaylin Mills led the Bulldogs on the offensive end, putting up 18 points for the game.

The final matchup for the weekend pitted the Bulldogs against the Bobcats. It was a tight game from the start as the teams traded baskets and the lead throughout the first half of play. The Bulldogs held the advantage going into the second half, but the Bobcats continued to hang close and were able to overtake the Bulldogs in a 37-35 victory. 

The Lady Bulldogs will participate in the Stateline Shootout next week as they travel to Newcastle on Thursday, to face the Dogies, and Belle Fourche on Saturday. 

Stats

SHS Boys – 50, Riverside – 23:

Scoring: Mills 23 (3/4 FT, 2/4 3pt), D. Gill 8 (0/2 FT, 0/1 3pt), E. Gill 6 (0/3 FT), Skeens 6 (2/2FT, 0/5 3pt), Schommer 3 (1/4 3pt), Downey 2, Banker 2 (2/4 FT)

Rebound leaders: Skeens 8, Mills 8

Assists: Skeens 4, Mills 3

Steals: Mills 3, E. Gill 2, Skeens 2

SHS Boys – 51, Meeteetse – 32:

Scoring: Mills 19 (4/5 FT, 1/1 3pt), Skeens 15 (1/3 3pt), D. Gill 5 (1/2 FT), E. Gill 4, Schommer 2, Watt 2 (0/2 FT, 0/1 3pt), Banker 2, Lubken 2

Rebound Leaders: Schommer 7, D. Gill 7, Mills 7

Assists: E. Gill 4

Steals: Mills 4

SHS Boys – 36, Upton – 46:

Scoring: Mills 11 (1/1 FT, 0/2 3pt), D. Gill 8 (0/2 FT, 2/7 3pt), Schommer 5 (3/4 FT), Skeens 5 (1/5 3pt), E. Gill 4, Watt 3 (1/2 3pt)

Rebound leaders: D. Gill 8, Schommer 7, Mills 5, E. Gill 5

Assists: Mills 2, Lenz 2, Schommer 2, E. Gill 2

Steals: Mills 2

SHS Girls – 49, Riverside – 26:

Scoring: Mills 14 (0/4 3pt), Williams 10 (2/2 FT, 2/11 3pt), K. Marchant 9 (2/4 FT, 1/4 3pt), L. Marchant 5 (1/3 FT), Banker 4, Jones 4 (0/2FT, 0/1 3pt), Karol 3 (1/3 FT)

Rebound leaders: Karol 8, L. Marchant 6, Banker 5

Steals: K. Marchant 3, R. Marchant 3, Williams 3, A. Marchant 3

Assists: Mills 2

SHS Girls – 48, Meeteetse – 27:

Scoring: Mills 18 (1/2 FT, 1/3 3pt), K. Marchant 5 (1/2 FT), Philips 4 (0/1 3pt), Banker 4, A. Marchant 4 (2/4 FT), Davis 3 (1/1 3pt), Neiman 2, Haugen 2, Cooney 2, Williams 2, Karol 2, L. Marchant 1 (1/2 FT)

Rebound Leaders: Karol 6, Banker 4

Steals: K. Marchant 6, Williams 4

Assists: Banker 2

SHS Girls – 35, Upton – 37:

Scoring: Mills 13 (2/5FT, 1/4 3pt), L. Marchant 6 (2/6 FT), Karol 6, Jones 5 (1/3 FT), Williams 3 (1/6), R. Marchant 3 K. Marchant 2 (2/6 FT)

Rebound leaders: Mills 7, L. Marchant 5

Steals: K. Marchant 5

Assists: K. Marchant 2