Lady Bulldogs wrap up first half of season at Holiday Tournament

The Lady Bulldogs wrapped up the pre-season schedule with the annual Holiday Tournament at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling last week. The team will be off for Christmas break until early January when the Lady Bulldogs return to the court on Jan. 5 in Prairie.

Haxtun took on Wiggins, Holyoke and Prairie in the tournament last week. Despite a loss in all three contests, the ladies battled through 12 quarters of basketball on the hardwood at NJC pushing through injuries and absences.

Thursday night's action put the Lady Bulldogs on the court against the Lady Tigers from Wiggin. Haxtun combined for 11 points in the first half and nine in the second but fell at the final, 49-20.

Junior Bobbi Starkebaum led the team with seven points against the Tigers. She connected with three field goals and one free throw for her seven. Junior Jayleigh Bullard hit two field goals for four on the night. Senior Cassidy Goddard registered three points followed by sophomore Katiegh Cody, senior Heily Avery and junior Kelsie Hadeen, each with two points.

Bullard led her team under the basket with five total rebounds. She brought down two on offense and three on defense. Avery, Hadeen, Goddard and Starkebaum each pulled down four rebounds. Junior Hadley Feik grabbed two.

Hadeen and junior Emily Anderson topped the numbers in steals for a combined seven. Hadeen nabbed four while Anderson came up with three. Bullard led in assists with three followed by Hadden with two and Anderson, Starkebaum and sophomore Lilly Lemesany, each with one.

The following day, Haxtun took the court for a contest with Holyoke Lady Dragons. The Lady Bulldogs took an early 16-11 advantage in the first quarter and added another seven in the second to hold onto the lead at the half. A big third quarter from the Lady Dragons gave them momentum into the fourth where they pulled out a five point win, 37-32, over Haxtun.

Two ladies hit double digits in the scoring column including Starkebaum and Bullard. Each player put 10 points on the board. Goddard registered four points followed by Cody and Kinsley Koberstein, each with three. Starkebaum and Hadeen both shot 100 percent from the free throw line. The two sank two of two shots from the charity stripe.

Starkebaum pulled a double-double against the Dragon adding 10 rebounds to her numbers. She brought down three on offense and seven on defense. Bullard tallied eight rebounds followed by Goddard with fie and Avery with four.

Lemesany, Avery and Hadeen each tallied two assists. Starkebaum led in steals with four.

Saturday morning action put the Lady Bulldogs in a contest with Prairie down two starters, Goddard with injury and Starkebaum to a family graduation. The Lady Bulldogs are also without senior starter Samantha Seger who injured her knee early in the season.

Haxtun came out putting seven points on the board in the first quarter and two in the second for nine in the first half. The Lady Bulldogs added another 12 in the second but fell by 20.

Senior Kirsta Dishman put five points on the board Saturday mornings. She connected with two field goals and a free throw. Anderson, Avery and Hadeen each added four to the board. Koberstein and sophomore Reagan Jones each added two.

Under the basket, Hadeen pulled down seven rebounds, the team high. She pulled down one on defense and six on offense. Dishman and Bullard each brought down five rebounds followed by Avery with four and Cody, Koberstein and Jones, each with three.

Hadeen registered three assists. Jones led in steals with four.

High school basketball action will resume on Jan. 5 when the Bulldogs travel to take on Prairie. There will be no junior varsity girls' game. Junior varsity boys will start at 4:30 followed by girl's and boys' varsity.

On Jan. 6, Haxtun hosts Wiggins with games starting at 11 a.m. with girls' and boys' c-team, girls' and boys' junior varsity and girls' and boys' varsity.