Sports
Sioux’s early woes continue
Matthew Semisch
12/23/2014
WESTHOPE - If there’s one problem that has stymied Westhope-Newburg’s (W-N) boys’ basketball team more than anything else so far this season, it’s been games starting slowly.
That was the case again on Tuesday in Westhope. The Sioux didn’t pick up the first point of the game - on a free throw - until 6:02 into the first quarter, and Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood (M-L-S) cruised to a relatively comfortable 55-38 victory.
M-L-S took over almost from the beginning and never trailed. The Mustangs opened up a 16-6 lead in the game’s first quarter.
W-N didn’t hit its first field goal of the night until freshman guard Tate Wyman hit a three-pointer 6:56 in.
Speaking after the game, Sioux head coach Bob Beaudrie lamented W-N’s problem of chronic sluggish starts.
“The last three games have been that way, and it’s not something you want to happen,” Beaudrie said. “We talked before the game about how we want to have high-percentage shots right away and get on the board first and keep adding up, but that didn’t happen tonight.
“If it does happen eventually, hopefully we’ll keep rolling with it, but we have to start scoring sooner and keep scoring more quickly and more often.”
The Mustangs kept rolling in the second quarter and went into halftime with a 30-13 lead. W-N was much improved in the second half and won the fourth quarter 16-12, but too much damage had already been done.
Beaudrie was pleased with his team’s ability to keep fighting, though, and said that that’s an encouraging sign going forward.
“I thought they played hard, and I don’t think you can say there was a lack of effort from our guys,” he said. “Mohall got after it from start to finish and our kids were playing physical and aggressive, but we had a tough time executing on offense.
“The second half was better, but in the first half we had struggles getting the ball in the hole. If we keep fighting like we did tonight, though, that’s a good thing.”
Wyman led the Sioux in scoring with nine points, while senior forward Chance Kitzman contributed eight to the cause.
W-N (0-3) will face Rolla and Our Redeemer’s in Minot on Saturday and Monday, respectively.