The Lady Bulldogs Shock the Wambdi 72-21

The Lady Bulldogs welcomed the Lady Wambdi to the Milbank Armory on Tuesday January 13, but not for long. Like a flash of lightning the game was over in less than an hour. The Lady Bulldogs are that quick!  

Milbank had returned to basketball action after a short hiatus, but that didn’t slow them down one bit. They scored in the first possession of the game and continued to take advantage of fast breaks, steals, and second chances to set the tone – all before Tiospa Zina got on the board at 8-2 by sinking two free throws. The Wambdi tried to put up a fight, but they struggled to control the basketball and turned it over 18 times just in the first half.

Milbank, however, blazed up and down the court piling up baskets and stretching their lead to 30-2. At that point, Tiospa Zina junior Kayleigh Abbey was injured on the floor, and a lengthy timeout ensued. When play resumed, TZ’s Krius Haukaas struck quickly with a 3-pointer.  Milbank then missed a shot and also fouled to send TZ to the line to shoot two. They collected both. The score moved to 30-5 to end the first quarter.

The second quarter started with one good free throw from Belle Pauli and a bucket from Susie Schuneman. Milbank was ahead 33-5. Wihamn Black Thunder connected for a basket for TZ and Pauli got a putback for Milbank to move the score to 35-7. TZ’s Ziah Crawford hit a two to push things to 35-9. Milbank’s Anna Neugebauer went to the line and came away with one.The Bulldogs had built up a big lead at 36-9. 

S. Schuneman,  Avery Schuneman, and B. Pauli continued to take turns filling  the basket. They brought the score to 44-9. The Wambdi turned over the ball for the 18th time in the first half. Just before the signal ended the quarter, A. Schuneman launched  a beauty of a 3-pointer from the corner – her third of the night. The Lady Dawgs went up 47-9.  Pauli, however, decided to pump in one more bucket before the break to end the second quarter with the score at 49-9.  

In the third quarter, the Mercy Rule applied as Milbank was in the lead by more than 30 points in the second half. This meant the clock would roll continuously except for timeouts and free shots. (Milbank nearly doubled the requirement, when they held a 56-point lead in the final quarter.)

Other than the clock, the second half proceeded in much the same way as the first. A. Pauli, S. Schuneman, B. Pauli with a 3-pointer, and Neugebauer all dropped in baskets to take the score to 58-9. B. Pauli added two points and A. Schuneman added two more to get the score to 62-9. The Wambdi sparked briefly to shovel in a 3-pointer and take the score to 62-12. Neugebauer chipped in two more points for the Lady Bulldogs with 2:10 remaining. (64-12) S. Schuneman nailed another 3-pointer to increase Milbank’s lead to 67-14. Tiospa Zina’s Emma Jens hit a field goal and was fouled (67-16). She stepped toward the line, but the ref indicated he had other business to attend to first. TZ was charged with a technical foul and A. Pauli headed to the line alone instead. She came away empty-handed. TZ then went to the stripe and made their regular free throw. The score sat at 67-17 with time running out. S. Schuneman powered in another triple. Lydia Gall made a basket, and Tiospa Zina made a bucket and two free throws. In the final seconds the score sat at 72-21. The Lady Wambdi, however, deserve credit for exhibiting perseverance.Tiospa Zina worked their way to the basket and landed a bucket just as the final buzzer went off. Milbank took the win at 72-23. The Lady Bulldogs also upped their season record to 6-1.

MILBANK          30     19     18     5     72TIOSPA ZINA     5   .   4       5      9      23

B. Pauli recorded a double-double with a game-high 21 points for Milbank and 15 rebounds. S. Schuneman scored 17 points, including three triples. A. Schuneman made 16 points. The sisters also added three rebounds apiece. Avery had six assists and Susie had four. Susie had seven steals and a block. Avery snagged four steals. A. Pauli and Neugebauer each scored seven points. Neugebauer added six boards. Bree Townsend and Gall added two points and two rebounds apiece. Lorn Harstad hauled down one rebound. The Lady  Bulldogs made 54 percent of their shots from the floor. They hit one of three attempts from beyond the arc. They had eight opportunities from the line and made two.

Tiospa Zina hit 23 percent of their shots from the floor. They made 12 percent from long range. The Lady Wambdi were perfect at the line at five of five. Harmony Rodland and Jens led the TZ’s scoring with six points apiece. Haukaas made five. Zitkana Cook, Crawford, and Red Thunder each score two points. Rodland was their leading rebounder with three. Jens and Black Thunder followed with two each.

What’s next? Milbank hosts Redfield for a doubleheader Thursday, January 15. The varsity girls tip-off is at 6:30 p.m. The varsity boys follow.