DOUGLAS - The Lady Bulldogs traveled to conference rival territory to take on the Douglas Bearcats in hoops action Friday night. The Bearcats are currently ranked #1 in the state with an undefeated record.
From the outset, the Bearcats applied pressure, couldn’t miss a three-pointer, and the Lady ‘Dawgs had a tough time maintaining possession of the ball. With a lid on the Wheatland basket, the Bearcats took a quick ten-point lead. In spite of smart shot attempts, the Bulldogs could not answer the running tally of points on the opposite end.
By the end of the first quarter, the Bulldogs trailed 9-18.
Lily Nichols came into the second half on fire, and took the ball away, adding some fuel to the Bulldogs’ fire. Ella Keil scored on an assist from Kacey Otero, and while the Bearcats beat it to their end of the court and scored, Otero answered immediately by putting up another good shot. The momentum kept going and with a bucket from Lily Anderson and a big three from Keil, the Bulldogs found themselves within seven points. The Bearcats were on fire from the three-point line and were dominant on rebounds.
The officials were letting a lot go in a very physical game, but the Lady ‘Dawgs continued to chip away and ended up outscoring their foe 17-16 in the second quarter. The scoreboard stood at 34-26 at the half-time buzzer.
The third quarter was rough-and-tumble, and unlike the second period, the Bulldogs struggled to score, and only made three points in the entire period. The Bearcats outscored the ‘Dawgs 20-3.
Freshman Lily Anderson scored a much-needed three-pointer at the opening of the fourth quarter, and after a steal from Nichols accompanied by an assist, Anderson scored again. WHS was now outscoring the Bearcats 8-0 with Camryn Mickelsen scoring on an assist from Keil and a three from Otero.
Unfortunately, the scoring streak didn’t last long as the Bearcats scored again and again, unanswered, ending the game 67-49.
Anderson led the team in scoring with 15 followed by Otero with 12, Keil for nine, Goertz for five, Nichols and Jones two each, and Mickelsen added four.
Saturday was a new day, and the Wheatland Bulldogs hosted another conference opponent, the Newcastle Dogies to their home court. The Lady ‘Dawgs came out with a mission in mind and didn’t look back. Incessant scoring and expert ball maintenance put the Bulldogs in the lead very early.
WHS was supremely victorious over Newcastle, 73-32.
Freshman Lily Anderson led the team in scoring with 36 total points, shooting 50 percent from three-point land, Lily Nichols scored 14 and led the team in rebounds with eight, Otero added 14 points and seven rebounds, Laynie Goertz put in five points, and Camryn Mickelsen and Macy Jones added two points each. Mickelsen pulled down six rebounds.
