Following a full week of hoops in the RPAC Tournament, the Dundy County Stratton Tigers hosted the Southwest Roughriders for a girls and boys double-header. The teams split the matchups as Southwest won the girls game and Dundy County Stratton won the boys matchup.
In the girls game, it featured top-5 rated in D1 Southwest against a team on the fringe of being rated in D2, DCS. Southwest was able to squeak by with a win, in an excellent game, 49-42.
In the first quarter, the opening minutes of basketball were a little sloppy, mainly because of the pressure each team was applying on defense. The squads were turning the ball over. The tempo, though, was great, and eventually, teams got things going. After the first quarter, Southwest led 11-7.
In the second quarter, in the first minute, DCS tied things up at 11-11. Later in the second quarter, Southwest led 23-17. DCS went on a 6-2 mini-run to close out the half and it was 25-23 at halftime.
In the third quarter, it looked like Southwest may take total control of the game and run away. We went to the fourth quarter with the Roughriders leading 41-30. But DCS continued to battle and hang around. What helped the Tigers was they were able to get Southwest into foul trouble. Southwest had two players foul out and three other players with at least three fouls.
Southwest was able to do enough to hang on for the win against the Tigers.
We chatted with Allison VanPelt after the win. Postgame interviews are brought to you by Acme Printing Company.
For DCS, Clara Spargo scored 20 and Abi Spargo had 14.
Southwest was led by Kyra Nelms with her 19 points, Allison VanPelt scored nine, and Apsen Billeter had seven points.
DCS is now 13-5 and will play at Cozad on Saturday. For Southwest, they are 18-1 and will play at home Thursday versus Perkins County.
Check out the highlights from the game brought to you by Prairie Girl Candle Company
In the boys game, it was close for about 18 minutes of game time, but the top-10 rated Tigers in D1 ended up taking down Southwest 80-56. This game was similar to the girls matchup as the tempo and pace was very good. DCS applied their press and for Southwest, there were times they were breaking the press with ease and getting runouts. Then, other times, DCS was taking the rock away and scoring.
Southwest had a 19-13 lead after the opening eight minutes.
In the second quarter, the teams' offense continued to play well. For Southwest they leaned heavily on Houston Billter as he scored 20 points in the first half. DCS controlled the game at halftime though, 36-29.
In the third, DCS got things rolling, and with 4:36 to go in the third, they led 50-34. DCS outscored the Roughriders 23-12 to lead 59-41.
In the fourth quarter, both teams were able to get out in transition and get buckets but DCS did more than enough to close out the game and win this matchup.
We visited with Lane Bybee of DCS after the win.
DCS was led by August Shaw's 20 points as he was excellent, Lane Bybee had 17 points, Ethan Latta had 11, Dante Horner scored 11, and Breck Horner had 11 too. What an offensive output for the Tigers.
For Southwest Houston Billeter had 31 and Deric Kelley scored 16.
Southwest is now 7-11 and will play Perkins County on Thursday at home. Dundy County Stratton moves to 15-4 and will. beat Cozad on Saturday.
Our Players of the Game brought to you by Farmers National Company - Lori Harding Real Estate Sales went to Allison VanPelt of Southwest and Lane Bybee of Dundy County Stratton.