Basketball season wraps up at Regionals

Girls

The Sundance Lady Bulldogs saw their season come to a close at the 2A East Regional Tournament this past weekend. The Lady Bulldogs clashed with two tough teams from the south, the Pine Bluffs Hornets and Burns Broncs, throughout the tournament. 

As the tournament began on Thursday, the second-seeded Lady Bulldogs squared off against the third-seeded Hornets from the south. Defense was the name of the game throughout this matchup as both teams struggled to find an offensive rhythm.

The Bulldogs held a slim, one-point lead going into the half. The Hornets, however, seized the momentum in the final quarter of play, clenching a hard-fought 32-29 victory over the Bulldogs. Jaylin Mills led the team in scoring, putting up 13 points throughout the game.

In the double-elimination tournament, the Lady Bulldogs needed a win to keep their season alive. On Friday, they were up against a familiar foe, the Wright Panthers.

Having defeated the Panthers two times within the regular season, the Lady Bulldogs went into the game prepared. Demonstrating their dominance from the outset, the Bulldogs established an early lead behind the scoring duo of Jaylin Mills and Lexie Marchant, who put up 17 and 10 points respectively.

The Sundance team would go on to take a 44-29 victory over the Panthers, keeping their postseason hopes alive. 

The final matchup for the Lady Bulldogs came on Saturday as they faced the Burns Broncs. With a win, the team would advance to the state tournament. The Bulldogs surged to an early lead in the first quarter, only to see the Broncs mount a comeback and seize a 25-16 advantage by halftime.

A scoring drought by the Broncs in the third quarter allowed the Bulldogs to claw their way back into contention, narrowing the Burns lead, 29-34 with one quarter remaining.

Every basket was crucial for the Bulldogs throughout the fourth quarter. Despite their valiant effort, the Bulldogs fell just short as the Broncs managed to maintain their lead and secure the 44-41 win, bringing an end to the Bulldogs' season.

Jaylin Mills and Lexie Marchant were again in double digit scoring for the Lady Bulldogs putting up 20 and 15 points respectively. 

The Sundance Lady Bulldogs ended their 2023-24 season with a 18-7 overall record.

Boys

The Sundance boys' basketball team was on the road to the 2A East Regional Tournament this past weekend. Going into the tournament the number four seed from the northeast, the Bulldogs had to tackle the Lingle-Ft. Laramie Doggers, the number one seed from the southeast.

The opening round wasn't going to be easy for the Bulldogs, but they were up for the task, taking a narrow 44-41 victory and moving one step closer to the championship bracket. Jake Schommer and Keaton Mills led the scoring effort for the Bulldogs, each putting in 15 points for the night. 

The second game brought the Bulldogs against the Wright Panthers, a team they had struggled with in the regular season. The game on Friday night was a different story.

The Sundance team maintained the lead throughout three quarters of play, going into the fourth with a 40-31 advantage. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs the shooting went cold and the Panthers outscored 22-6 to take a 53-46 victory sending the Bulldogs into the Saturday morning play-in game. 

Needing one more win to move on to the state tournament, the Sundance Bulldogs were up against the Pine Bluffs Hornets on Saturday. The Bulldogs struggled against this team and fell 34-53, ending their 2023-24 season.

Despite the loss, Eli Gill and Parker Skeens put up double digits in the game, adding 15 and 11 respectively. 

The Bulldogs closed out their 2023-24 season with a 13-12 overall record. 

Stats

SHS Girls vs. Pine Bluffs: 29-32

Scoring: Mills 13 (4/8 FT, 1/4 3pt), Jones 4 (2/4 FT), L. Marchant 4, Marchant 4 (1/4 FT, 1/3 3pt), Marchant 2, Williams 2

Rebound leaders: L. Marchant 5, Mills 4

Steals: L. Marchant 5, Mills 3

SHS Girls vs. Wright: 44-29

Scoring: Mills 17 (3/5 FT, 2/5 3pt), L. Marchant 10 (0/4 FT), Williams 5 (1/7 3pt), Jones 4 (0/2 FT), Karol 3 (1/4 FT), Marchant 2, Banker 2 (0/2 FT), Gill 1 (1/2FT)

Rebound Leaders: Mills 9, Marchant 5, L. Marchant 5

Steals: L. Marchant 2, Mills 2

Assists: Mills 2

SHS Girls vs. Burns: 41-44

Scoring: Mills 20 (8/8 FT, 0/2 3pt), L. Marchant 15 (1/4 FT), Williams 3 (1/2 3pt), Karol 2 (2/2 FT), Marchant 1 (½ FT)

Rebound Leaders: L. Marchant 6, Mills 6, Jones 4

Steals: Banker 3, Marchant 2

Blocks L. Marchant 2

SHS Boys vs. Lingle-Ft. Laramie: 44-41

Schommer 15 (4/4 FT, 1/3 3pt) Mills 15 (1/2 FT, 2/2 3pt) E. Gill 8, Skeens 4, Downey 2

Rebound leaders: Mills 12, E Gill 9, D Gill 7

Assists: E Gill 4, Mills 3

Steals: E Gill 3

SHS Boys vs. Wright: 46-53

Scoring: Schommer 15 (3/6 FT 2/5 3pt), Skeens 8, Mills 7 (1/2 FT 0/2 3pt), E Gill 6, D Gill 6, Lenz 4

Rebound leaders: D Gill 6, E Gill 6

Assists: E Gill 2, Downey 2, Mills 2

Steals: Schommer 2, Mills 2

SHS Boys vs. Pine Bluffs: 34-53

Scoring: E Gill 15 (2/4 FT 1/1 3pt) Skeens 11 (3/7 3pt), Schommer 6 (2/3 FT), Mills 1 (1/4 FT), D Gill 1 (1/2 FT)

Rebound leaders: E Gill 10, D Gill 4

Assists: Schommer 3