Bulldogs wrap up basketball season at Region 2 Tournament

The Haxtun Bulldog basketball season come to an end last week in the first round of the Region 2 Tournament. The team faced off with the similar ranked Longmont Christian Warriors on Friday afternoon at Englewood High School.

Longmont Christian got an early jump in the Bulldogs, putting up 15 points while holding Haxtun to just four in the first quarter. The Bulldogs bounced back for a strong second quarter showing, putting 10 points on the board while defensively holding the Warriors to only three points, leaving Longmont Christian with just a four-point advantage at half time.

The second half was all Longmont Christian as the team piled on the offensive pressure, putting up 32 points in the third and fourth quarters combined while allowing just 17 for the Bulldogs. Longmont Christian advanced to the second round of play the following day, but ended up falling to Mile High Academy to end their season at Regionals as well.

"We played so hard and did so many thing correct, we just couldn't make shots as a team," Head Coach Bryce Bivins said. "It was just one of those games that happens in basketball every once in a while."

According to Bivins, junior starter Ryan Tempel led the team in both rebounds and points against Longmont Christian. Tempel put 10 points on the Bulldog's scoreboard while also pulling down seven rebounds in the contest.

Overall, the Bulldogs finished the season with a 10-13 record including a number one seeding going into Districts as well as a District Championship.

"I think we surprised the community with how much we improved over the season," Bivins said. "We were two games away from the State Tournament and with this young group, that should get them excited about next year."

The Bulldog team will lose just one senior this year to graduation. Clayton Stephens, who has been a part of the Bulldog basketball program for the past four years, will graduate this May.

"The overall best moment we had this year as a team was after going 0-4 at the beginning of the season, those boys came out and not only upset Peetz, but also Holyoke," Bivins said looking back on the season. "There's no giving up with these kids and that's why I'm excited for years to come."