Season Ends as it Began for Dayton Boys

DAYTON - The Dayton boys’ basketball team ended their season Saturday night against WP on the road, suffering their 20th loss of the year, 66-32, and concluding a winless season.

The Bulldogs played two of their last three games at home. The stretch run started against Weston McEwen Jan. 27 in Dayton. In that game, the Bulldogs trailed by eight at the half, but went on to one of their best quarters of the year, outscoring the TigerScots 16-9, closing out the third period trailing only by one, 31-32.

With 32 seconds left, the score was 39-38 TigerScots. Ben Kleck was fouled and hit both of his free throws to give the Bulldogs the lead. Linton McAllister of the TigerScots then hit a jump shot to regain the lead 41-40 with less than 20 seconds remaining.

Dayton’s Zach Waggoner worked his way to the basket and was fouled with 13.2 seconds remaining. He hit one of two free throws, tying the score at 41-41.

With 1.1 seconds remaining, The TigerScots got one free throw to win the game, the closest Dayton would get to victory all season.

Dayton was lead by Zach Waggoner’s 15 points and Cal Martin’s 9 points.

Dayton could not muster the same intensity in Thursday’s game against league-leading Walla Walla Valley Academy, a game they lost, 53-32.. The team came out flat and trailed 21-3 after one quarter, having committed ten turnovers. They trailed 45-15 at the half.

Dayton was lead by Ben Kleck’s aggressive and smart play that garnered 2 steals and 12 points. The Bulldogs also got 5 each from Zach Waggoner and Ian Smay.

Dayton travelled to Waitsburg-Prescott on Saturday night, losing 66-32 (see separate story), ending their season at 0-20.