Bulldogs Win Home Tournament

DAYTON -- For the undefeated 2011 Bulldog boys basketball team, the third annual Dayton Holiday Tournament was about milestones.

Not only did the boys become the first Dayton team to win the three-year-old winter tournament, but senior Garett Turner passed the 1,000-point mark for his high school career, a feat equaled by only two other Bulldogs in more than a generation.

The moment in which he crossed the 1,000-point marker first passed unnoticed about a minute before the end of the third quarter during the Bulldogs' victory over Kiona Benton - characteristically in the form of a Turner trey.

Father, announcer and statistics keeper Jeff Turner was the only one who knew the exact play that pushed his son into the four digits. Everyone else, including Turner himself, knew he was generally close.

Jeff Turner held the announcement until after the game was over.

"I knew it was going to happen this year, but I kind of forgot about it," said Garett

Turner, who was quick to downplay the milestone's significance. "It's just kind of what happened. It means nothing until we win a championship."

The elder Turner said he could only recall two other Bulldogs who crossed the 1,000-point mark: Brian Martin, who graduated in 1986, and Will Hutchens, who graduated in 1995.

Turner's achievement Thursday was marked after his team beat Kiona Benton. In a brief mid-court ceremony, head coach Roy Ramirez handed Turner the game ball as a keepsake.

Garett, who has been a starter on the team since halfway through his freshman basketball season, scored 29 points during the game against Kiona Benton, a 3A team the Bulldogs defeated, 67-49.

Ramirez was lukewarm about that win overall, and much more impressed with his players' effort against Lacross Washtucna, whom the dogs put away on Friday to get the tourney trophy.

They beat the Tigercats 66- 30, solidifying their winning record to 9-0.

"We didn't play with a lot of intensity (Thursday) night," he said about the game against Kiona Benton, which the dogs didn't win until the second half. "Tonight (Friday) was a good defensive effort. We didn't let the (Tigercats) open it up. We contested every shot they took."

In the opening minutes of Friday night's title game, the Tigercats quickly fell behind by 5 points. Their deficit grew steadily despite an aggressive defensive effort around the key. The Bulldogs' steals and coast-to-coast breakaways proved too much for the Lacross Washtucna team, whose head coach was clearly frustrated with his players' performance. The first quarter ended with Dayton up, 21-8.

Colton Bickelhaupt opened the scoring with a steal, breakaway and solo layup. When it came to the cordon around the dogs' own key, the Dayton players read their opponents' moves move for move, shutting down their shooting attempts effectively. The period ended, 40-17, for the Bulldogs.

After the break, Ramirez subbed in some of the younger players on his bench, including Isaiah Lambert, Jacob McCleary, Cruz Ramirez and Johnny Sanchez, each of whom contributed significantly to the Bulldogs' momentum and success.

"When they get their opportunities, they make the most of it," Ramirez said about his bench.

The third quarter ended, 56-21, and the dogs were far from done unraveling the Tigercats' defense and poise. The visiting team managed a rare trey and an even rarer breakaway, which they failed to convert.

The Bulldogs finished their drive 66-30 to reel in the hardware.

Dayton vs. Kiona Benton 67-49

Day 13 18 18 18 - 67