Girls have better showing in rematch

The Custer High School girls basketball team played its first game of the new year last Thursday night in Hill City, losing 57-22 in a rematch from the teams’ season-opening game.

Custer hung tough longer in this game, trailing by only 10 after the first period. However, the Rangers used a 16-4 run in the second quarter to take a 34-12 halftime lead and never looked back on the way to the victory.

“We saw a lot of improvement. We really talked about help-side defense and transition defense. I felt we did a lot of that right,” Custer head coach Stephanie Ornelas said.â��“We still need to be organized when we get back and talk. Our main problem is that we get tired and don’t talk. We have to work through that.”

Samâ��McNeel was Custer’s leading scorer, hitting for nine points before fouling out. The Wildcats were out-rebounded 22-12 in the game and turned the ball over 28 times. The team managed only five baskets in the game.

“They got some quick baskets with their transition offense, and our offense quit running the wings, which creates better shots,”â��Ornelas said.

The team faces a tall task tomorrow night, as it travels to Rapid City for a game against the No. 1 ranked team in Class A, St. Thomas More. The team will then head back home next Tuesday night for a matchup against Hot Springs. The St. Thomas More game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., while the Hot Springs game will tip off at 6 p.m.

Ornelas said when it comes to playing the top-ranked Cavaliers, the key for her team will be to play loose and have fun.

“We have to take advantage of our opportunities, if we can create things, and go from there,”â��she said.â��“Any team is beatable on any night. Last year we went up there and hung with them in the first half.”

Ornelas said she doesn’t know much about the Bison, but said the team’s focus continues to be on improving itself, not the upcoming opponent.

“I think it’s better for the girls not to know a lot about the teams and just play basketball,”â��she said.â��“We just go in and improve on us.”

Custer 8 4 7 3 —22

HC 18 16 10 13 —57

Custer—Sam McNeel 9, Darian Turner 3, Jade Spring 1, Nykyla Malinosky 2, Billie Wicks 2, Jasmine Cisneros 3, Ally Hass 1. Totals: 5 11-20 22.

Hill City—Kala McDonald 15, Dru Gylten 11, Breanna Lende-Hanson 9, Codee Sagdalen 6, Allie Henderson 10, Tia Grabow 2, Dory Schrier 2, Jenni Qualm 2. Totals: 24 8-15 57.

Three-point goals:�Custer 1 (McNeel). HC 1 (Gylten). Turnovers: Custer 28, HC�12. Total fouls:�Custer 11, HC�17. Fouled out:�McNeel.