Your Hometown News Source

Rebuilding Bulldogs close out season

ead Coach Clayton Strong counted as a victory his team's defense holding the S.E. 1B MVP, Isaac Bone, to just nine points as the Bulldogs closed out the regular season with a 62-28 loss to Tekoa-Rosalia here Friday. Dayton finishes 1-11 in league, 3-16 overall. The previous game was a 59-15 loss to Garfield Palouse.

"Our boys played their hearts out tonight," Strong said after the T-R loss. "They were given a new defensive concept to digest in two days and they did a good job of keeping the reigning league MVP in check. We held him to nine points and he had been averaging over 28 a game.

"We knew that the trade off was that we could give up more rebounds than normal, which happened," Strong continued. "Our guys never up though and each player was able to do something positive to end the season.

Coach Strong noted the game was "bittersweet" as teammates bid seniors Nolan Korslund and Cayle Davis farewell. "Coaches and players so appreciated all of their efforts to make our program better," Strong said. "They were coachable, great teammates, got better throughout the season and helped show us how to deal with adversity. They will be missed and we wish them nothing but the best in their futures."

The program also lost to Gar-Pal on January 30, 59-15.

"We did things much better this time against Gar-Pal than the last time," Strong said, "though the score may not have indicated it.

"We attacked their press better through ball movement, blocked out better and didn't fall for so many shot fakes. We just ran into a poor shooting night which presents its share of problems against a team such as that," he said.

T-R 62, Dayton 28 2/2)

Day 8 4 9 7-28

TR 23 18 15 6-62

Dayton (28) Raymond Yutzy 5, Jordan McCowen 13, Carson Potter 6, Jack Zanger 3, Christian Gonzalez 1. Free throws: 9/15-60%. FG(2)-2/23-8%. FG(3)-5/24-21%

Tekoa-Rosalia (62) Menga 5, Place 8, Marsh 2, T. Place 4, Bone 9, Allen 34. Free throws: 8/17-47%. FG(2)-21/54-39%. FG(3)-4/36-11%.

Gar-Pal 59, Dayton 15 (1/30)

Day 5 2 5 3-15

GP 17 19 19 4-59

Dayton (15) Raymond Yutzy 2, Jordan McCowen 5, Denver Hutchens 2, Carson Potter 3, Cayle Davis 3. Free throws: None. FG(2)-3/18-17%. FG(3)-3/16-19%.

Gar-Pal (59) B. Pfaff 12, Kelnhofer 8, Rordon 6, Cook 4, B. Snekuik 7, K. Snekuik 7, R. Pfaff 3, Orr 6, C. Pfaff 6. Free throws: 3/5-60%. FG(2)-25/44-57%. FG(3)-2/7-29%.