Sports Update: Boys Basketball, Wrestling
Author: Eliza McLaughlin - Staff Reporter
Sports Update: Boys Basketball & Wrestling Eliza McLaughlin - Staff Reporter Basketball
Win or lose - but especially win — the Broadwater Bulldogs boys' basketball team always provides an exciting game for fans to watch, and the team’s match against the Whitehall Trojans on Thursday, Jan. 12 was no different.
“These guys are really fun to watch, and they play with a lot of energy,” head coach Tyler Patrick said following the game.
Ryan Racht was first to find success in the paint with a layup in the first quarter. It was almost immediately followed by another two points from Eric Eichinger.
Jesus Garcia said started slow in the first quarter, but he said his teammates were there to make up for it.
The Bulldogs finished the first quarter down 6-18.
In the second, Jesus Garcia got a breakaway and brought the score to 17-20. For much of the quarter, Whitehall has quicker than the Bulldogs and had several well-placed shots.
With less than a minute left in the second quarter, the Trojans were penalized for sending six players onto the court after a timeout. Racht stepped up to the line for two free throws but missed both. He immediately made up for it with a layup and tied the score 29-29.
Entering the third quarter, Ryedan Reed got a breakaway for a layup and broke the tie. Reed then assisted Eichinger for another two points to the Bulldogs.
The Trojans eventually got the ball and scored a layup of their own, but the Bulldogs were ready with Garcia at the other end of the court. One long pass to Garcia, and the Bulldogs were up 35-34.
The Bulldogs kept up the intensity with another long pass from Racht to Reed. Reed appeared to miss the shot, but Garcia was already in the air ready to send the ball into the hoop.
On another breakaway run, Garcia passed up the opportunity to add to his season points total and gave Reed the ball for a layup to finish the third quarter up 45-38.
With a few more long-court passes and nothing but net 3-pointers, the Bulldogs came out on top 51-41.
Garcia led the team with 20 points during the game and with 164 throughout the season. But he doesn’t take the credit for this success. Racht is second with total points for the season with 107, followed by Ryedan Reed with 56.
“Without my teammates, I wouldn’t be able to score,” Garcia said.
School officials did not respond with the school record for total points scored in a season or game before press time.
The Bulldogs then traveled to Boulder to take on the Jefferson Panthers on Saturday, Jan. 14. In the end, the Panthers were able to outscore the Bulldogs by only three points: 56-53.
Eichinger led the team with 16 points, followed by Garcia with 15 and Racht with 11.
The Bulldogs will play again at home on Thursday, Jan. 19 at 3 p.m. against the Sweet Grass Sheepherders, before traveling to Choteau on Jan. 20.
Wrestling
The Bulldog wrestlers traveled to Choteau on Jan. 13 and 14 for what assistant coach, Mike Schnittgen, said would provide the team with a state preview.
While the results of the tournament weren’t what the Dawgs had hoped for, Schnittgen said it provided valuable insight.
“Choteau was a good eye-opener, it showed us where we are at conditioning wise and against the competition,” Schnittgen said. “We lost a lot of matches that were winnable, and that we will win in the future with minor adjustments.”
Beyond conditioning, Schnittgen said he saw that the Dawgs were determined to achieve their season goals.
Julian Stewart battled to sixth place in the 205 pound weight class, and Schnittgen said he expects to see more medalists at divisional.
“I think we have a few kids that will surprise their opponents down the stretch and wrap up the season strong,” he told MT 43 News.
Fans can watch the Dawgs in person on Jan. 20 and 21 at 10 a.m. when the team hosts the Class B/C Duals.
The Dawgs will then finish out their regular season at home on Jan. 26 at 6 p.m. with the Harry Hall Mixer and on Jan. 27 at 6 p.m. for the Copper Shamrock meet. The Copper Shamrock meet will serve as the team’s senior night celebration as well.
Article Images
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PhotoCredit: Eliza McLaughlin and Alexa O'Dell
Image 1 Caption: Ella Begger (Photos by Eliza McLaughlin and Alexa O'Dell)
Image 2 Caption: Ryan Racht (Photos by Eliza McLaughlin and Alexa O'Dell)
Image 3 Caption: Jesus Garcia (Photos by Eliza McLaughlin and Alexa O'Dell)
Image 4 Caption: Bulldog wrestler (Photos by Eliza McLaughlin and Alexa O'Dell)
