Sports

Sioux split week

By Bottineau Courant Staff

01/15/2013

Westhope-Newburg learned what it feels like to be on the winning and losing end of games against strong opponents this past week as the Sioux boys defeated Bishop Ryan on the road and then fell to the state-ranked Rugby Panthers.

The week started out on a high note as Hunter Braaten led the Sioux came back from a four-point deficit to tie a game against the Bishop Ryan Lions and then win 51-45 in overtime.

Braaten and the Sioux were bottled up in the first half, as they were held to 14 points, but their defense kept them in the game.

That’s when Braaten took over scoring 17 of his 21 points in the second half and overtime.

The game also featured the return of senior Kodie Hancock, who was out of action to start the season. Hancock struggled, shooting 1-for-9 and scoring only two points, but did contribute four rebounds in his first game of the year.

Junior Ethan Miller had a strong game for the Sioux. He led them with 11 rebounds and also added nine points. Braaten had a double-double with 10 rebounds to go along with his 21 points.
After the spirited comeback win the Sioux had an even tougher task as they had to play the fourth-ranked Panthers in Rugby on Thursday evening.
Things did not start well for the Sioux as they fell into an eight-point hole after the first quarter.

However, the Sioux had a resurgent second quarter and drew to within a point at halftime.

The Panthers proved to be too much for the Sioux in the end as they out scored the Sioux 36-24 in the second half and wound up with a 62-49 victory.
It was the Sioux’s District 11 opener as well, so the district regular season beginner wasn’t what Westhope-Newburg hoped.

Braaten again led the Sioux with 19 points, but Hancock played much better on the day, notching a double-double with 16 points and a team-high 11 rebounds.

Following the up and down week the Sioux are 6-3 overall and 0-1 in district play.

Next up for the Sioux will be a trip to Towner to play district rival Towner-Granville-Upham on Tuesday evening. Following that the Sioux will play at 7:30 p.m. in Bottineau on Thursday as they continue their trek through district play.