Ranger boys win one, lose one

The Hill City Rangers boys basketball team suffered its first loss of the season losing to West Central Jan 3. The boys  are now 3-1.
Both teams were undefeated going into the game, but the Trojans had the advantage of being at home. They also had a significant height advantage over the Rangers.
Rangers Head Coach Laramie Harvey said it was the Trojans’  physicality that gave them the advantage over Hill City.  
“Their height obviously gives them an advantage, but it did not determine the outcome of the game. They might be the most physical team we play all season,” Harvey said.
Hill City traveled farther to this game than normal  and Harvey doesn’t see that having been a factor in the way his team played saying instead that, “we give West Central credit; they are a good team.”
Despite that, both teams were unable to score for the first few minutes of play with the Trojans scoring first,  four minutes into the first quarter.
The Trojans jumped ahead 8-0 before Harvey took a timeout. Zane Messick was the first to put points on the board for the Rangers, sinking two free throws late in the first.
The first quarter ended with the Rangers trailing 14-5. All the Trojans’ points came from their 6-9 junior Will Kuhl.
Kuhl  continued to score throughout the second quarter as the Rangers continued to play catch up. The Rangers managed to score only seven points in the second quarter, with the score 28-12 at the half.
Kuhl scored 29 points overall in the 62-45 Rangers loss. Harvey gave the player a lot of credit saying he was open during the game.
“At some point, after he makes two three-pointers, we must have someone on the floor take ownership and not allow him to get up another attempt,” he said. “We guard him tighter and make him put the ball on the floor. Yes, guarding him tighter makes the chance he will go by you greater. We have to develop the mindset that if we guard him tight, we trust our teammates will be where they are supposed to be.”
Harvey said when a player is having  a night like Kuhl was “it certainly makes the job on the floor harder when a player is on,” adding,  “it is an opportunity for one of our guys to step up, take ownership and display leadership.”
The boys continued their road trip Jan. 4 competing at the first  America’s Hometown Classic in Madison. The classic was a fundraiser for the Madison Baseball Association, with teams from South Dakota, Minnesota and Nebraska competing.
Eighteen games took place with the Rangers  facing and defeating Waubay-Summit by a score of  55-41
Harvey called the classic “an enjoyable experience” crediting the Madison Chamber of Commerce  for putting on a good classic.  
Harvey called the facilities at Madison High School top notch.
“When you attend a classic like we did often you are going to get matched up with a team you do not normally play,” he said. “That was the case in our match up, Waubay-Summit, and I believe the kids enjoy seeing different teams.”
The Rangers face some tough competition this week against Spearfish (5-0) at home Jan. 9 and away against Philip (2-4) Jan. 10.
Harvey said  his team’s hopes are that it continues to get better every day and to learn from its mistakes by not continuing to repeatedly make the same mistakes.