Bulldogs Finish Regular Season With Victory Over Wambdi

The Bulldogs basketball team defeated Tiospa Zina at the Milbank Armory on Friday February 27. Logan Diede, head coach for the Dawgs, commented, “I was very pleased with how our boys approached this game. We played a clean game taking care of the ball, and we really rebounded the ball well. It was important to play with that kind of energy and passion as we head into Region play next week. We can hopefully bottle that up and continue that effort!”

Jeter Scoular dropped in a swish – a 3-pointer to get the Bulldogs rolling. Sam Rick followed with an old-fashioned three-point play to put Milbank up 6-0. Senior Ryan Keeton added a two-pointer. (8-0) The Wambdi completed a nice pass to get on the board at 8-2. Jack Howard passed to Lincoln Holscher, who struck gold from underneath, and Keeton put one in from close range to get the score to 12-2. With 2:46 left to go in the first quarter, Tiospa Zina took a timeout. After the break, Wambdi senior Isaac Rodland put one on the rim. The ball took its time, but it finally decided to roll in to keep the Wambdi in the game at 12-4. Freshman Jeffrey Heminger Jr. then fouled Bulldog senior Layten Osowski, and Osowski headed to the line to collect two. Rodland hit a long three off the glass and cut the margin to seven at 14-7. Rodland fouled Holscher to pick up his second personal early. On the toss-in, Osowski cut to the rim for another two for MIlbank. Tiospa Zina claimed the rebound, but Milbank took it away. Bowsher sent it downcourt to Scoular. He used the windfall to harvest another basket and end the scoring in the first quarter at 18-7.

Emmett Snaza started the second quarter with a field goal for Milbank. (20-7) TZ’s rebuttal was no good by Malaki Fast Horse Jr. Holscher put in a two, and Heminger got his own rebound and Fast Horse got two points for the Wambdi to move the score to 22-9. At 5:08, Eric Jens Jr. fouled Snaza, but neither free throw would fall for the 6’ 5” sophomore. 

Milbank’s next bucket came from a pass from Rick to Holscher, when Holscher dropped it in off the glass. Snaza fouled Fast Horse and Fast Horse stepped to the line to make the second half of two. The score sat at 24-10. 

Osowski sent a package to Holscher and he delivered a basket. (26-10)  Rodland then hit a bucket for two  – his seventh point of the night. The score sat at 26-12 until Holscher drilled in a 3-pointer – his 11th point of the game– to get the score to 29-12. Keeton pulled off a steal.  The  ball made its way to Rick, who relayed it to Osowski for two points. (31 -12)  Rodland performed a nice spin move into the basket. His shot hit the target, but he was called for traveling for the Wambdi’s 10th turnover of the night.

Rick downed a 3-pointer for Milbank, and Darius Locke hit a two-pointer for the Wambdi to get the score to 34-14. The last two minutes of the first half were not productive for either team. The Wambdi sent a pass downcourt and way overhead and out of bounds. A good hook shot by Milbank didn’t count due to traveling. It was just the first turnover for Milbank, though.  Milbank took a timeout, and Tiospa Zina fouled twice to get their total to five team fouls in the quarter. Their second one was also their fifth and it sent senior Braylen Bowsher to the line for Milbank. Neither would go in. Time was waning, and the Bulldogs and the Wambdi were ready for a break. The halftime score sat at 34-14.

Rick passed to Scoular, who downed the first basket of the second half, and Fast Horse  answered with a bucket for TZ. (36-16). Rick hit his second 3-pointer in the game to move the score to 39-16.  Rodland sent the ball to Fast Horse again for a bucket to keep the Wambdi moving at 39-18. Holscher then went up for a baseline jumper for two. Rodland sent a pass to Locke who put a quick finish on it to get the score to  41-20.

 With five minutes remaining in the third, senior Jack Howard was fouled by Rodland.  Rodland picked up his third, and Howard picked up one point at the line. (42-20)  Howard fouled Fast Horse at the rim, and Fast Horse also picked up a point at the stripe. (42-21) Holscher got a basket and plus-one on a foul by Heminger and he moved the score to 45-21. Rick went to the line courtesy of Fast Horse. He made one of two. (46-21) A lot of fouls were called in what can only be called a lop-sided game, but in a world where disrespect is common, both teams– at least the players on the court– deserved points for their good sportsmanship. 

With four minutes remaining in the quarter, Rick put a shot up high and in for two. (48-21)  Scoular acquired his second foul. He sent Fast Horse to the stripe. Fast Horse downed one free throw to gain his seventh point of the game.(48-22) TZ then committed a lane violation. Milbank got possession and, in a  battle of the boards and three tries, landed a basket by Rick. (50-22) Heminger added a basket for TZ. (50-24)  Milbank senior Bray Bowsher was then fouled on a layup that didn’t count and he collected the front half at the line. (51-24) Fast Horse missed a three. Holscher hit a 3-pointer and his 19th point, and Rick put one in to complete the final 30 seconds of the third quarter and put the score at 56-24.

In the final period, Jaxson Wiese landed a basket for Milbank. (58-24) Rodland dropped in a shot and was also fouled by Harley Zemlicka. Rodland made the free throw. ((58-27) Senior Ethan Owen shot for Milbank that refused to cooperate. On a fast break by TZ, Heminger took it up and in to get the Wambdi to 58-29. 

With six minutes remaining, TZ was called for a pushing foul. Jens missed a shot. TZ stole the ball and Heminger yanked the ball out of Zemlicka’s hands and made a basket on a fastbreak layup. (58-31) Milbank started to substitute players with Cade Grabow, Max Scoular, Aiden Kelly, and Mack Koplin seeing time on the court. Grabow missed a three, but downed a 2-pointer to get the score to 60-31. After a missed shot by TZ, Street  passed it to Grabow, who  went to the well again to score another bucket. (62-31) The Wambdi also decided to  make some substitutions, and Azlag Haug put in the final two points of the game for Tiospa Zina. Milbank earned the victory 62-33.

Holscher led Milbank with 19 points, seven rebounds, and a steal. Rick followed with 16 points, four assists, and five rebounds. J. Scoular made seven points, three assists, and four rebounds. Osowski made six points, one assist, and four rebounds. Keeton had four points, one assist, three rebounds and three steals. Snaza had two points and four rebounds. Grabow made four points and added one rebound. Wiese had two points and one rebound. Howard added one point, one assist, and three rebounds. Bowsher made one point, one rebound, and two steals. Zemlicka, Owen, and M. Scoular each grabbed one rebound. Koplin made one assist.

The Bulldogs hit 42 percent of their shots from the floor. They made 20 percent from long range. Milbank downed seven of 16 at the line for 44 percent.

For the Wambdi, Heminger made 12 points, four rebounds, and two steals.Rodland made 10 points, two assists and three rebounds. Fast Horse added seven points, seven rebounds, and two steals. Locke made two points, one rebounds, and one steal.Jens made two points and three rebounds. Storm Black Thunder and Haug each hauled down a rebound.

The Wambdi downed 39 percent of their shots from the floor. They made four of seven from the free throw line to finish at 57 percent.

MILBANK           18     16     22     6     62
TIOSPA-ZINA      7       7     10      9     33