Busy new year for Bulldogs

The Sundance Bulldogs returned to the hardwood after the holiday break, kicking off the new year with a matchup against the Hulett Red Devils before hosting the 2A East Smackdown. 

Opening play on Tuesday, the Bulldogs set the tone early against the Devils, jumping out to a 19-13 lead in the first quarter. With aggressive defense and quick transition buckets, the Bulldogs extended their lead, 37-24, by halftime.

Balanced scoring powered the Bulldog's 63-47 victory over the Devils, as Kade Mills led the way with 13 points, Parker Skeens contributed 12, Eli Gill added 11 and Owen Watt chipped in 10. 

On Friday and Saturday, the Bulldogs hosted the 2A East Smackdown featuring teams from across the state, offering a preview of potential state tournament matchups. The Bulldogs finished 2-1, showcasing their ability to compete against strong opponents. 

Opening play on Friday afternoon, the Bulldogs were up against the Pine Bluffs Hornets. It was a tightly contested game as the Bulldogs and Hornets came out firing.

Racking up an impressive 20 points in the first quarter, the Bulldogs trailed the Hornets by only four points. The scoring slowed throughout the second quarter as both teams' defense stepped up, and the Bulldogs closed the gap, 32-34 at the half.

The Hornets found their rhythm in the second half, going on a decisive run that shifted the momentum in their favor. Despite an impressive 22-point effort by senior Jake Schommer, Sundance struggled to overcome the Hornets' final offensive burst, and the Hornets secured a 67-58 win.

Despite the loss, the Sundance team showed they could contend with the teams from the other side of the state.

The Bulldogs bounced back in their second matchup of the Smackdown on Friday evening as they faced the Burns Broncs. From the opening tip, Sundance dictated the pace, outscoring Burns 15-7 in the first quarter with quick ball movement and sharp shooting from Parker Skeens and Owen Watt.

The Bulldogs maintained their intensity in the second quarter, entering halftime with a commanding 30-21 lead. The third quarter proved decisive, as the Bulldog offense poured in 20 points. Skeens finished the game with 18 points, while Watt added 17 in a dominant 66-40 victory. 

In their final game of the Smackdown, Sundance faced their toughest challenge yet, the top-ranked Thermopolis Bobcats. Both teams started slow, with Sundance edging out a 20-13 halftime lead.

The game opened up in the second half with both offenses finding their groove. Sundance put up an impressive 21 points in the third quarter, fueled by second-chance points and domination on the defensive boards. Sundance pulled down 29 defensive rebounds for the night, limiting Thermopolis' scoring opportunities and maintaining their lead. Schommer once again led all scorers with 21 points while Eli Gill helped secure 10 rebounds in the 57-40 victory.

Head coach Nick Olson summarized the weekend play with the following: "We played a good weekend against a lot of good teams. The team's energy and effort was top notch, which helped us to overcome some very tough opponents. We were able to get really good looks offensively with our patience and our ability to attack the rim."

The Bulldogs will have a light week this week as they host the Hill City Rangers on Saturday. Tip off will be at noon, starting with the junior varsity and varsity is scheduled to start around 3 p.m.. 

Stats

SHS 63, Hulett 47:

Scoring: Mills 13 (3/4 3pt), Skeens 12 (0/2 3pt), Gill 11 (1/2 FT), O. Watt 10 (0/1 3pt), Schommer 9 (0/2 FT, 1/7 3pt), Krell 4, Lenz 2 (0/1 3pt), Downey 2 (0/2 3pt)

Rebound Leaders: Gill 6, Skeens 6, O. Watt 6

Assists Leaders: O. Watt 5, Downey 3, Schommer 3

Steal Leaders: Schommer 4, Skeens 3

Blocks: Skeens 1, Lenz 1, O. Watt 1, Mills 1

SHS 58, Pine Bluffs 67:

Scoring: Schommer 22 (6/10 3pt), Skeens 11 (4/4 FT, 1/3 3pt), Mills 10 (2/5 3pt), O. Watt 8 (2/2 FT), Gill 4, Lenz 2, Downey 1 (1/2 FT)

Rebound Leaders: O. Watt 12, Schommer 4, Gill 3

Assist: Gill 3, Skeens 1, Lenz 1, O. Watt 1, Mills 1

Steal: Schommer 2 Gill 1, Skeens 1, O. Watt 1

SHS 66, Burns 40:

Scoring: Skeens 18 (0/2 3pt), O. Watt 17 (1/1 3pt), Mills 9 (1/2 FT), Schommer 8 (2/4 FT, 0/1 3pt), Gill 6 (2/2FT), Downey 4, Krell 4

Rebound Leaders: Skeens 7, Mills 6, O.Watt 6, Gill 6

Assist Leaders: Gill 4, Schommer 3, Downey 3, Lenz 3

Steals: Gill 4, Skeens 2, O.Watt 2, Mills 1

Blocks: Skeens 2, Downey 1

SHS 57, Thermopolis 40:

Scoring: Schommer 21 (3/4 FT, 4/7 3pt), Gill 10, Mills 9 (4/5 FT, 1/2 3pt), Skeens 8 (2/6 3pt), Downey 5 (1/2 3pt), Watt 4 (0/1 3pt)

Rebound Leaders: Gill 10, Watt 7, Mills 6, Schommer 6

Assists: Skeens 4, Downey 3, Mills 3, Gill 1, Watt 1

Steals: Gill 2, Watt 2, Skeens 1