Wildcats corral Buffaloes

By: 
Jason Ferguson

A 16-point effort from senior Dustyn Fish was the catalyst for the Custer High School boys basketball game last Saturday evening at the Armory as the Wildcats climbed out to a big lead and held on late for a 57-48 win over Stanley County.
Fish’s 16 points came on an efficient five-of-nine- shooting night, including hitting five of his seven three-point attempts.
“I thought Dustyn played his best game of the season for us,” said head coach Paul Kelley. “He took open shots and the kids found him. It’s nice to see him get going a little more offensively.”
It was Fish who gave the Wildcats a lead they would never relinquish in the first quarter when he buried a three-pointer to make the score 9-7. Another Fish three sent Custer into the second quarter with a 14-9 lead, and the Wildcats opened up a double-digit lead shortly thereafter following a Gage Tennyson basket inside that started a small run that was capped by a Kaleb Wragge three-pointer and a 25-11 lead.
The Wildcats poured it on in the third quarter, as two Fish triples bookended a Gunner Prior three and put Custer up 36-19 at the 5:11 mark of the third quarter.
Nathan Cook scored two of his game-high 24 points for the Buffaloes to try to spark a Stanley County charge, but a Wragge offensive rebound and basket put Custer up by 19 at 42-23.
Offensive rebounding, and rebounding in general, was a point of emphasis for Custer heading into the game, and the Wildcats responded by grabbing 37 rebounds, including 12 on the offensive end.
“We just did a much better job crashing the boards,” Kelley said. “That’s something we emphasized over the last week. Even when you’re not shooting well that gives you more opportunities.”
Daniel Sedlacek and Tennyson both had seven rebounds, while Jace Kelley had six in only 12 minutes of play before leaving with an injured ankle.
After another Fish three-pointer added to the Wildcat cushion, Stanley County began a late charge to cut the Wildcat lead to 12, thanks to several Wildcat turnovers caused by the Buffalo press and what Coach Kelley said was an inability for the team to realize it was playing against the clock at that point as much as it was the Buffaloes.
“We had some breakdowns. We didn’t show any patience and poise at the end,” he said. “Stupid turnovers, bad shot selection, shooting too early in the block. (Stanley County) took advantage of our mistakes and made it a closer game than it needed to be.”
Tennyson joined Fish in double figures with 12 points, while Prior, Wragge and Kelley all had seven.
The Wildcats will head to Box Elder Thursday for a matchup against the Douglas Patriots who enter the game with a 3-7 record. However, the Patriots are a lot better than their record would indicate, Kelley said, pointing out they have played a bevy of AA teams and played them close. The Patriots have two close losses to St. Thomas More, Pierre and one close loss to Rapid City Stevens among their seven losses.
“We always play them close. We have to play a complete game, plain and simple,” Kelley said. “They are very talented. If they were a Class A school they would be one of the top schools out there. We have to put things together and go out and play.”
The game is scheduled for an 8 p.m. tip. Attendance at the game is limited to two people per player, and masks are required.
Custer    14    13    17    13    —57
SC    9    4    13    22    —57
Custer—Gunner Prior 2-14 2-2 7, Dustyn Fish 5-9 1-3 16, Daniel Sedlacek 3-5 0-1 6, Jace Kelley 3-6 0-0 7, Gage Tennyson 5-13 2-4 12, Kyle Virtue 1-3 0-0 2, Kaleb Wragge 3-6 0-0 7, Tristen Schelske 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 22-57 5-10 57.
Stanley County—Lathan Prince 4-16 0-0 9, Cormac Duffy 2-10 0-0 6, Evan Nordstrom 1-4 1-2 3, Gavin Irving 0-1 0-0 0, Daysen Titze 1-4 0-0 2, Nathan Cooke 11-18 2-2 24, Tayne Bohman 2-6 0-0 4. Totals: 21-59 3-6 48.
Three-point goals: Custer 8 (Fish 5, Prior, Kelley, Wragge), SC 3 (Nelson 2, Prince 1). Rebounding: Custer 37 (Sedlacek 7, Tennyson 7), SC 30 (Duffy 7). Assists: Custer 10, SC 6. Turnovers: Custer 12, SC 12. Total fouls: Custer 13, SC 12. Fouled out: Prior, Duffy.

 

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