Coming off a game in Hot Springs where its head coach questioned its effort and desire, it could be argued the Custer High School boys basketball team needed to make a statement.
It did just that.
The Wildcats had no such effort issues Monday evening at the Armory, as they defended, rebounded and scored with aggression in a 68-46 manhandling of Hill City.
“I thought we did a really good job on the defense end,” Custer head coach Paul Kelley said.
On Feb. 13 the Rangers of Hill City visited the Armory, spoiling Custer’s Senior Night and Parent Night with a 64-49 win.
Custer head coach Tayton Vincent said the biggest difference between the Wildcats’ victory over the Rangers earlier in the season and this game was the dribble penetration of the Ranger guards, which broke down the defense and created easy looks for the Hill City offense.
Second-chance points also hurt the Wildcats, as they were outrebounded by 11.
In a handful of games against tough opponents this season, the Custer High School basketball team has fallen into a familiar, less-than-favorable pattern.
Start strong, build a lead.
The opposition comes back to tie or take the lead by halftime.
Start the third quarter sluggish on offense, defense—or both—as the opposition takes control of the game.
Having ranked in the top eight teams for duals during the season, the Custer High School Wildcat wrestlers made the trek to Watertown to compete in the State B dual championships last Saturday. After three very close matchups with Winner, Philip Area and Bon Homme-Avon, the team wrestled their way to fourth place in the tournament.
“We just had to step up as a team, and everyone had to do their part, and they did. You can’t ask for much more than that,” said head coach Jared Webster.
The Custer High School girls basketball team fell behind early and was held at bay in a 58-39 loss to the visiting Spearfish Spartans last Thursday at the Armory.
A slow start to the game saw Spearfish ahead 14-7 with around two minutes gone in the second quarter, which was extended by a 7-0 Spartan run aided by two free throws by Avery Kirk and a three-pointer by Kate Scharf, who hit five triples in the game.
It was a busy and productive week for the Custer High School girls basketball team last week, as the Wildcats started off the week last Tuesday with a convincing win over the Douglas Patriots before another relatively easy win over the visiting Hot Springs Bison last Thursday. That game was followed by a trip to Belle Fourche Saturday, where the Wildcats fell to the Broncs 54-34.
Two nights after an exhausting and emotional game against regional rival Hot Springs, the Custer High School basketball team rebounded from that tough defeat to get back in the win column, defeating the Belle Fourche Broncs 62-38 last Saturday afternoon in Belle Fourche.
“We jumped on them early. It was nice to get lots of kids minutes,” Custer head coach Paul Kelley said. “It was a nice way to finish the week.”
The Custer High School boys Wildcat wrestling team has secured the Black Hills Conference title yet again after Friday’s victory in Hot Springs, this year for the fourth time in a row. The girls did well too, coming home with second place.
“It just goes to show what kind of program we have here,” said head coach Jared Webster.
The Custer High School Wildcat wrestling team had double duty last week with duals with Chadron (Neb.) and Douglas-Rapid City Christian-New Underwood (DRCCNU). Thursday and the Belle Fourche Invitiational over two days Friday and Saturday. At the Belle Fourche Invite, both the girls and boys teams had strong showings with the boys placing third and the girls fifth.
“I believe we could have done a heck of a lot better,” said head coach Jared Webster, saying the team is working on buidling confidence and believing they can win when they step on the mat.
Overcoming a 14-point deficit, on the road, to upset the top-ranked region team? That’s big.
Doing it when that top-seeded team was your rivals 12 miles to the north, the Hill City Rangers? Priceless.
Such was the case last Friday evening at Gins Gym in Hill City, as the 6-8 Wildcats did the improbable, knocking off the Rangers on their home court on the back of a balanced scoring attack, relentless effort and a never-say-die attitude that had head coach Tayt Vincent beaming after the game.
