By Tim Huether The back end of a boys and girls basketball doubleheader saw a good game between Bennett County and the Todd County Falcons Feb. 6, in Martin, with the Falcons earning the sweep on the night with the Todd County boys claiming a hard fought 61-51 victory.
The Warriors, playing on consecutive nights, played well early in the game but could not keep up with Todd County late in the game.
The visiting Falcons went up 6-1 but back to back three point baskets from Devon Featherman shot the Warriors to a 7-6 lead.
With the Falcons leading 10-9, Shooter Frederick started to get hot, making seven straight points to put Bennett County up 16-12 at the end of the first quarter.
Frederick scored the Warriors next five points in the second and the Warriors were suddenly up 23-14, prompting a Falcon time out.
The Falcons responded with a 9-0 run, tying the game at 23.
The Warriors went up 2423, then managed just one point the rest of the half and the Falcons, aided by a deep three pointer at the buzzer, took a 31-25 lead to the locker room at the half.
The teams played even in the third quarter, but the Falcons hit another three pointer at the end of the quarter to go up 46-37.
A Blair Louden basket in the fourth closed the margin to five at 46-41 and a three by Louden later made it 5044 and the Warriors were hanging in there.
With four minutes to play, Christin Poor Bear’s field goal made it 52-48, but from there it was all Todd County as the hosts team went cold and it was suddenly a 57-48 game with time winding down and the Warriors could not catch up, losing 61-51.
Players of the game against Todd County are Shooter Frederick and Christin Poor Bear.
The JV boys lost to Todd County 32-13 with Hayden Risse the leading scorer with 5 points. Malcolm Herman, Ben Theurer, Wyatt Huber and Billy Waln all scored 2 points.
“We are at our busiest part of our schedule right now and we have played some pretty tough opponents,” said boys head coach Anthony Muilenburg. “During this stretch of games, we have played pretty good basketball but we have not yet played a complete game. Games against Kadoka, St. Francis and Stanley County are great examples of us playing really competitive basketball for a quarter or two. But in order for us to take the next step in our growth as a team, we have to play competitive basketball on both ends of the court for four quarters!”
“Our games against Hay Springs and Todd County were very competitive and a lot of fun to be apart of,” said Muilenburg. “I wish the outcomes of those games were different but I am truly seeing the potential this group has and how successful they can become if they continue to work hard! We have a very young group and there will be bumps in the road along the way but if they continue to trust the process of the culture and standards we are striving for, then I have no doubt that the future of Bennett County boys basketball will be bright!”
Kadoka game Player of the Game was Devon Featherman, St. Francis game Player of the Game was Christin Poor Bear.
Hay Springs game Players of the Game were Rush O’Neill and Hayden Risse.