BOX ELDER, S.D. – The Sturgis Scooper boys and girls opened up their 2020-2021 basketball campaigns on Friday night in Box Elder, but had dramatically different results.
The Scooper girls used stingy defense and a 22 point fourth quarter to blow out the Patriots, 62-35.
The Sturgis boys kept it close throughout the first quarter, but then couldn’t put the roundball in the peach basket and Douglas pulled away for a 78-38 win.
Girls head coach Jordan Proefrock had several question marks coming in to Friday night’s game, with the loss of a strong senior class to graduation last spring. Proefrock wasn’t sure who would replace the scoring duo of Kylie Shaw and Sarah Janz.
“We have six seniors but only two of them really played last year, Makayla (Keffeler) and Megan (Petrocco),” Proefrock said. “Our juniors, Tatum (Lightenberg) and Kaylee (Whatley) coming back as starters, that helps. For us, we’re just going to use the athletic ability that we have.”
Junior Kaylee Whatley and senior Makayla Keffeler took charge early against Douglas and the Scoopers led 14-10 after one quarter.
Douglas guard Keana Walton popped in two quick three pointers early in the second to the cut the Scooper lead to 20-19. Keffeler answered with a three pointer of her own to kick off an 11-4 run to end the second quarter, propelling Sturgis to a 31-23 lead at the break.
Neither team could seem to find the basket in the third with Sturgis outscoring Douglas 9-6 in the quarter. The Scoopers poured it on in the fourth behind six points from Reece Ludwick and a three pointer from Payton Hedderman, overwhelming Douglas 22-6 in the quarter on their way to a 62-35 win.
Whatley led all scorers with 14 points and 11 rebounds, with Ludwick chipping in 11 points and seven boards. Keffeler added nine points and nine rebounds for Sturgis. The Scoopers shot 37% from the field, making 24 of 80 shots and were 9 of 24 shooting from the charity stripe for 37%. Sturgis had only 12 turnovers and corralled 55 rebounds. Douglas was led by Walton with 11 points and Angell Arredondo added eight points. The Patriots were 14 of 59 shooting from the field for 23%, with 24 turnovers and 26 rebounds.
The Scooper boys had similar questions heading into Friday night’s matchup with the Patriots, losing the bulk of their scoring and the starting five to graduation last May. Head coach Derris Buus knew there would be some speed bumps early in the season.
“Well obviously we’re pretty young,” Buus said. “Our biggest thing right now is just getting everyone on the same page, just trying to play hard and just making sure these guys understand that effort and attitude will get you a long ways.”
Sophomore Gavin Lightenberg ran the Scooper offense from his point guard position, dropping in four points in the first quarter on some nifty moves and Sturgis and Douglas were tied at eight apiece midway through the stanza. The Patriots exploded for a 13-0 run to lead 21-8 after one quarter. Douglas extended their lead to 46-17 at the half behind 16 points from 6’2” junior guard Darrell Knight.
The Scoopers worked the ball inside in the third quarter to sophomore center Jake Vliem, hoping to exploit Vliem’s 6’7” frame for some easy buckets. But the Patriot defense held firm and led 65-30 after three quarters on their way to a 78-35 victory on their home floor.
Sturgis was led by Lightenberg with nine points, with junior post player Carson Pankratz adding seven points and seven rebounds. The Scoopers were 16 of 59 from the floor for 27% and shot 38% from the free throw line, going five of 13. Sturgis had 21 turnovers and 27 boards. Knight poured in 21 points for the Patriots, with teammates Connor Sauvage and David Severson adding 12 points apiece. Douglas shot 45% from the field, going 27 of 59 and shot 61% from the charity stripe, making 16 of 26. The Pats had 12 turnovers and 26 rebounds.
The Sturgis girls are on the road to Belle Fourche on Tuesday, with the boys hosting Belle Fourche at home in West Gymnasium on Tuesday. Both games tip off at 7pm.
