Ranger boys basketball splits play

The Hill City Rangers are at 4-6 on the season, picking up a win against the Sundance, Wyo., Bulldogs after a loss to Sioux Falls Christian Chargers.

The  Chargers, who have made an appearance at the state tournament for the last 10 years, came to Gins Gym Jan. 16. 

They took the tip and scored immediately. The Rangers came in strong with a scramble on the ground giving them possession. They played man-to- man, but still the Chargers grabbed three before a low pass from Zane Messick to Mason Buehler put Hill City on the board. 

The Rangers stole the ball then took a time out. Down by five, Messick fired a pass to Brensen Veneklasen, who nailed a reverse layup. 

The teams traded baskets until Sioux Falls Christian’s Carson Nickles posted up into the lane scoring two, with Hill City unable to answer. Very quickly, the Rangers trailed by 11 with 2:47 left in the first quarter. Veneklasen narrowed the gap. The Rangers kept shooting from far outside but were unable to sink shots. 

Even from the line, the Rangers continued to struggle to get the ball into the hoop and the quarter ended with Nickles grabbing two at the buzzer and the Chargers ahead 26-10. 

The Chargers began the second quarter with eight unanswered points. Messick scored his first points of the night with 5:20 left in the half, nailing the  first Hill City three-pointer of the game. Junior Brodi Moriarty grabbed his first three point shot before the teams traded fouls. With 3:51 left in the half, the Rangers burned another time out, trailing 38-16.

Isaiah Brewer scored his first points of the night late in the second quarter, which ended with Brewer sinking two free throws, the only free throws the Rangers made all half.

 The second half started with both teams missing shots. The Rangers continued to  try  three-pointers, none of which connected until Brewer hit one with 6:07 left in the third quarter. Still,  the Chargers had a 25-point lead. 

Hill City racked up five team fouls by late in the third when coach Laramie Harvey threw in Breylon Rahn, Karson Kolb, Landry Harvey and Nick Schroeder.  Rahn, with an assist from Schroeder, sank a three-pointer. The Chargers extended their lead to 30, the biggest of the evening. They won with a score of 82-44.

Sundance came into Hill City the following night, looking for its first win of the season. But that was not going to happen. The Rangers took control of the court and the game early on, keeping the Bulldogs from getting anything started. The Rangers scored an impressive 18 unanswered points in the first quarter of play. 

Hill City started the second quarter ahead 22-4, a lead that was extended to  42-15 by the half.

Harvey kept the varsity team in for most of the third quarter, which ended 56-23.  The Rangers defense held the Bulldogs down, allowing only three points in the fourth quarter with the final score 70-27.

The Rangers grabbed the lead without Dax Frandsen, who was visible in street clothes on the sideline.

The Rangers played at home against Belle Fourche Tuesday, Jan. 20 before traveling to take on the Phillip Scotties (1-10)  Jan. 23.