Bulldogs earn second spot in 8-B districts
Robbie Trahan goes for the lay-up against Plains
ST IGNATIUS — The Bulldogs took second to Thompson Falls at the 8-B District Championship.
At Saturday night's championship game against Thompson Falls the Bulldogs came out strong and showed off their ability to work together and play as a team but the Bulldogs ran into some problems in the second half.
"We played a good first half but our execution, defense and our teamwork all started lacking in the second half," head coach Steve Woll said.
The Bulldogs were making all of their shots in the first, leading 15-12 after one. Avery Old Coyote was the first one on the board and Gus McDonald and Tyler Trudeau kept the score climbing to 8-0 in the first four minutes.
The team was full of energy in the first quarter but it slowed down by the second and the Hawks started moving in 15-15. Trudeau broke the tie and went ahead with a two-pointer, 19-17. The score went back and forth but the 'Dogs still had the lead at the half, 30-29.
The 'Dogs came back out after the break and continued to drive the ball. McDonald scored a three-point basket to help hold up against the Hawks' three point gains but the intensity started to drop.
"It was too much individual stuff and not enough teamwork," Woll said.
The 'Dogs started falling behind but the score was still a close 39-37 until the Hawks dropped in some fast points. By the fourth quarter the Hawks kept out-scoring the 'Dogs and turning the ball over with heavy defense on the Bulldogs leading scorers. Old Coyote scored a two pointer with less than two minutes on the clock and he brought it up again 56-51.
The 'Dogs caught back up when Casey Cable turned and passed off to Trudeau for two. Seconds were left on the clock and the 'Dogs' nerves got the best of them with a few missed lay-ups and a fall out at the free throw line. The score ended with the 'Dogs down by two, 56-54.
"The team was upset about losing. They wanted to win," Woll said.
The Bulldogs defeated Plains on Thursday 56-52 for another back and forth hard-hitting game.
In the first quarter the 'Dogs trailed but they got back in their comfort zone and tied it up before McDonald brought it ahead with a three-point shot 9-6. McDonald took his time to find a way through Plain's tough defense and he forced his way to the net and dropped in a few two-pointers. The 'Dogs started missing shots and Plains moved ahead by two but Old Coyote tied it back up with seconds on the clock to end the first quarter, 13-13. Trudeau picked it up off the floor and scored two, and he was back at the net for another high energy push through the defense. Trahan worked in some three-pointers and Trudeau brought up another two to tie it up again 25-25 before McDonald collided with Plains to momentarily bench him while he recovered. McDonald came back off the bench to break the tie with two free throw shots 27-25 and he went back for a two point shot before he dropped two back-to-back three pointers.
The 'Dogs had the lead by the third quarter buzzer 42-37. Trahan pushed in an offensive rebound and McDonald continued to weave through the defense 48-46. With seconds on the clock the 'Dogs stacked up the points at the free throw line and Plains dropped in another shot but it wasn't enough to defeat the 'Dogs and it ended 53-50. The Bulldogs will go to Divisionals next to play on February 23, at 8 p.m.