Bulldogs Taste Sweet Victory

DAYTON - The Dayton Bulldogs took DeSales into overtime on Saturday and then slammed home a victory, beating this tough team 52-44 in the last four minutes of the game.

DeSales, a league team who beat Dayton twice last year, gave the Bulldogs a run for their money. Dayton's free throws weren't getting in the basket, and DeSales advanced on the Bulldogs in the third quarter, gaining a seven-point lead. Dayton struggled to get back in the game. With just 20 seconds left on the clock, junior Garret Turner brought Dayton back into the game with a floater in the key.

The Bulldogs hit their stride during overtime, hitting one critical three-pointer and making several free throws to break the tie and trounce DeSales by eight points.

"We weren't shooting free throws well all night," head coach Roy Ramirez said. "But the boys made them when it counted."

Turner led the team in points, scoring 16 total, but tying for a close second were Colton Bickelhaupt and Kroft Sunderland, with 11 points each.

Ramirez, who had traveled to Waitsburg the night before to watch DeSales play against Waitsburg-Prescott, knew Saturday's match would be competitive.

"Their new coach, (Allyn) Griffin, has been playing really well," Ramirez said. "I was impressed with how DeSales played against Waitsburg."

This was Dayton's first overtime match of the season. The boys went into overtime during three games last year.

The victory Saturday was sweet after losing to Tekoa-Oakesdale in an away game the previous Tuesday. The Bulldogs beat this nonleague team in a close match on Dec. 8, 43-37, but their luck against the Nighthawks ran out in their second game against them this season.

"We just had an off night," Ramirez said.

Tekoa-Oakesdale came out ahead 61-49, but the teams were neck and neck at half time.

"We just couldn't get the shots to fall in the second half, and our defense was not good," Ramirez said.

In field goals, the two teams were dead-on even, each scoring 21 during the night's game. But the Nighthawks scored seven trays to Dayton's one.

" That's what got us," Ramirez said.

The Lady Bulldogs lost by just a few points in one of their most exciting league games this season against DeSales on Saturday.

"This was our most complete game of the season so far," head coach Scott Hudson said. "We played a great game. I think we're starting to click."

DeSales beat the Lady Bulldogs 44-40, but the tense crowd in Dayton Saturday was on the edges of their seats.

DeSales, a competitive team ranked 10th in the state, had to work hard against the determined Lady Bulldogs. The teams tied in the first quarter and were still neck and neck at the half, Dayton up by one point.

At the end of the third quarter, the teams were tied again, and Dayton managed to keep up their fight. With just 38 seconds left in the game, spectators wondered if the Lady Bulldogs would take their opponents into overtime. But DeSales' Annie Higgin quickly shot a successful three-point basket, giving her team the win .

Hudson and his players were not disappointed. "The effort out there tonight was outstanding," Hudson said. "The gals are really starting to play with intensity."

Like the boys, the Lady Bulldogs had trouble against Tekoa-Oakesdale last Tuesday.

"It really wasn't a very good game," Hudson said.

In his team's defense, Hudson explained that Tuesday night's game time was changed to 5:30, but the bus time wasn't adjusted to compensate.

"We didn't get there until 5:00, and then we had to run in, change our clothes and be out playing within 20 minutes," Hudson said.

The girls scored just five points in the first quarter. The Nighthawks scored 16. In the second quarter, Dayton got in 12 points, but Tekoa-Oakesdale scored 18. At the half, Dayton was behind 17 points.

Their luck changed in the second half of the game, however. They tipped the scales matching the Nighthawks point for point, finally scoring one point more before dropping back again in the final quarter.

"If you just look at the scores in the second half, it was a two-point game," Hudson said. "Once we finally woke up everything was just hunky-dory cool."

The Bulldogs play Friday at home against Tri- Cities Prep and Saturday at home against Waitsburg- Prescott.

BULLDOGS MEN

Dayton vs. Tekoa-Oakesdale (Jan. 11) 49-61

Dayton 13 10 17 9 49

TO 14 16 15 16 61

Dayton (49): Jason Norris 4, Joey Schlachter 9, Dain Henderson 10, Hayden Fullerton 3, Garret Turner 11, Kroft Sunderland 11.

Dayton vs. DeSales (Jan. 15) 52-44

Dayton 14 7 12 6 13 52

DeSales131169544

Dayton (52): Wyatt Frame 2, Colton Bickelhaupt 11, Joey Schlachter 5, Hayden Fullerton 7, Garret Turner 16, Kroft Sunderland 11.

LADY BULLDOGS

Dayton vs. Tekoa-Oakesdale (Jan. 11) 39-58

Dayton 5 12 13 9 39

TO 16 18 12 12 58

Dayton (39): Jessica Tate 4, Courtney Fuller 5, Samura Miller 4, McKayla Bickelhaupt 7, Nicole Lambert 6, Shelby Smith 6, Courtney Mings 5, Malia Frame 2.

Dayton vs. DeSales (Jan. 15) 40-44

Dayton9158840

DeSales 9 14 9 12 44

Dayton (40): Courtney Mings 11, Courtney Fuller 10, Jessica Tate 9, McKayla Bickelhaupt 6, Nicole Lambert 3, Shelby Smith 1.