CUSTER S.D. — The Sturgis Scooper girls came back from an early deficit to beat the Lady Wildcats, 44-39, but the Scooper boys couldn’t seem to find the basket throughout the game as Custer ran away from Sturgis, 54-23.
Custer started the game strong on both ends of the court and jumped out to an 8-0 lead before Scooper point guard Tatum Lightenberg got Sturgis on the scoreboard. Allyson Cass had two three-pointers in the first quarter for the Lady Wildcats, who led 14-6 at the end of the stanza.
Sophomore guard Sawyer Dennis had the hot hand for the Scoopers in the second, dropping in a three-pointer and two field goals, cutting the Custer lead to 23-21 at the half.
It was all Sturgis to start the second half with the Scoopers shooting out to a nine point lead late in the quarter. Custer was bit by the turnover bug to start the second half, giving the ball away 10 times in in the third quarter. Three pointers by Kaitlyn Spring and Cass cut the Scooper lead to 33-30 heading into the fourth quarter.
Custer looked like they would make a run to start the fourth quarter, as guard Allie Kelley hit a long three to tie the game at 33-33. The Scoopers scored six straight points on field goals by Lightenberg, Dennis and Payton Hedderman to extend their lead to 39-33. Hedderman was outstanding on defense, deflecting several passes and providing a spark to the Sturgis offense. The Lady Wildcats could get no closer than four points as time ran down and the Scoopers sealed their comeback win over Custer, 44-39.
Sturgis, (3-5), was led by Dennis with 11 points on five for seven shooting from the field. Reece Ludwick added nine points and Lightenberg chipped in eight. The Scoopers were 18 of 53 from the field for 33% and six of 20 from the free throw line for 30%. Sturgis had 19 turnovers and snared 22 rebounds, earning their second victory in a row.
Custer didn’t make a two point field goal in the second half but drained five three-pointers to keep the game close. Cass had four three’s and 14 points for Custer, with Alice Sedlacek contributing 10 points and six rebounds. Custer shot 31% from the field and 22% from the free throw line, making two of nine charity tosses. The Lady Wildcats, (2-5), had 26 turnovers and 22 rebounds.
The Custer boys faced the Scoopers without their outstanding shooting guard, Jace Kelley, who is out with a broken hand. The Wildcats didn’t seem to miss a beat as 6’4” junior Gage Tennyson dominated the paint in the first quarter, dropping in eight quick points on four of six shooting. Custer led 19-8 after the first quarter and outscored Sturgis 11-8 in the second to lead 30-19 at the half.
The Scoopers could only muster seven points in the entire second half, succumbing to the man-to-man pressure defense from the Wildcats. Custer was hot from long range, popping in six treys in the second half, cruising to a 54-23 victory.
Custer, (4-3), was led in scoring by senior guard Gunner Prior, who scored 17 points with five three pointers. Dustyn Fish chipped in nine points. Custer shot 36% from the field and 66% from the free throw line, with 15 turnovers and 25 rebounds.
Sturgis junior Carson Pankratz scored seven points and had three rebounds for the Scoopers. Thor Sundstrom and Jake Vliem had four points apiece. The Scoopers, (1-6), shot 28% from the field and 57% from the charity stripe, with 31 turnovers and 17 rebounds.
The Scooper boys travel to Belle Fourche on Saturday to take on the Broncs. Gary and Terry will have the game live on KBHB radio at 810 AM or 105.5 FM, with the pre-game starting around 1:15pm. The Scooper girls host the Lady Broncs at West Gym with tip off scheduled for 1:30pm. Custer travels to Hill City on Thursday.
