Bulldogs pick up win over Sedg. Co.; set to face off with Holyoke

The Bulldog basketball team went 1-1 over the weekend. Haxtun picked up a win on the road in Julesburg on Friday night but fell in a nail biter the following night in Otis.

The team holds a 7-5 overall record and stands at 2-2 in league play with just seven games remaining on the regular season schedule.

Friday night pitted Haxtun in a contest with the Sedgwick County Cougars, a fellow Lower Platte League team. The contest took place on the hardwood in Julesburg. Haxtun struck early in the contest and never let up, rolling to a 71-39 win over the Cougars.

Three Bulldogs hit double-digits in the scoring column in Julesburg led by senior Michael Gerk with 20. Senior Maclin Tempel registered 15 points and senior Kyle Fryrear came in with 11. Chase Goddard put up nine points followed by Ryland Wolff with six and Keegan Colglazier with four. Mason Bornhoft, Colin Cone and Tate Michael each tallied two.

“I was very happy with the effort on Friday,” said Head Coach Jayden Stieb. “Everyone came to play and played well. We executed on offense and played great defense. A lot of the younger guys on the bench got some much needed varsity time in the fourth quarter and they all stepped up and played well.”

The following night brought the battle of the Bulldogs as Haxtun traveled to take on Otis.

The hometown Bulldogs put 25 points on the board in the first quarter and 14 in the second while holding Haxtun to just 19. Otis led by 20 at the half.

The second half was a much different ball game as Haxtun came out strong, chipping away at the hometown team’s advantage. Haxtun scored 17 points in the third and 24 in the fourth but as the final seconds ticked way Otis held the lead for a two-point win, 62-60.

“The second half effort was great. It is hard to come back against anyone after spotting them 20 points. The message at half was to just chip away. A few runs at a time and some big stops here and there. Proud of the team for fighting until the end,” Stieb said.

Gerk put 20 points on the board in Otis, giving him 40 for the weekend. Wolff and Colglazier each added 12 followed by Tempel with nine and Fryrear with two.

This week the Bulldogs will face off with Holyoke on Friday at Northeastern Junior College. The first time the two teams met, Holyoke came out on top by 20. Haxtun returns to their home court on Tuesday, Jan. 31 for a match up with Briggsdale.

“We need to work on being more consistent. Lately it feels like we don’t know what team is going to show up,” said Stieb. “We need to work on doing what we do well and making that the focus of each game.”