Rangers round out Patriots, fall to Tatanka

The Hill City Ranger girls basketball team hosted the Douglas Patriots Tuesday night at Gins Gym, using a fast start and stifling defense to secure a decisive victory.

The game opened at a quick pace and turned heated as the Douglas coach received a bench warning early in the first quarter followed by a player technical foul as tensions flared.

Alaina Dean calmly knocked down both free throws, and the Rangers took next possession where Daril Frandsen put-back her own rebound to continue a 13-point Ranger run.

The Patriots found some footing late in the first, knocking down a three-pointer and adding three more from the charity stripe to bring the score back within one possession.

Hill City responded as Frandsen connected from beyond the arc, extending the Ranger lead 16-11 going into the second. 

The Rangers offense was well spread across the board while their pressure defense caused major problems for the Patriots, who only managed one point in the second quarter, and three points in each the third and fourth quarters.

Hill City coasted to a 56-18 win with Macie Ham leading the offensive charge with 14 points, while Dean and Frandsen each added 11.

Hill City hit the road Saturday, traveling to Pine Ridge to take on the 14-4 Lakota Tech Tatanka. Lakota Tech entered the contest fresh off a 106-37 win over Little Wound and wasted no time setting the tone, knocking down a three-pointer on its opening possession.  

The Rangers kept pace early but trailed 19-12 after the first quarter. Hill City battled back to tie the game 21-21 midway through the second, but the Tatanka ran off with a 12-point surge while holding the Rangers to just one point the rest of the half, taking an 11-point advantage into the break.

Lakota Tech stretched their lead in the third quarter, continuing the climb into the fourth for a 71-52 victory over Hill City. Lakota Tech’s Lizzie Robinson put up 29 points for the game.

The Rangers were led by Frandsen with 16 points while Ham contributed 14.

The Rangers closed out their regular season Tuesday on the road in a rivalry match up against Custer. Results were not yet available at the time of publication.