Lady Bronc Basketball ——————–
by James Trimble
The Rapid City Christian Lady Comets outscored the Belle Fourche Lady Broncs 24-6 in the fourth quarter to take home a
45-39 victory Tuesday night in Belle Fourche.
Tough defense and turnovers were the story in the first part of the opening quarter until Bella Jensen hit a long three at the four minute mark to put the Broncs on the board making it 4-3. The Broncs took the lead on a Kaylin Garza jumper in the lane and two buckets back to back by Hayley Wilbur stretched the lead to 9-4. Jensen then dropped in two free throws and the quarter ended with the Broncs up 11-6.
The Comets fought back. A 25 foot bomb by Christian Freshman Olivia Kieffer completed an 8-3 run and knotted the game at 14 all. Senior point guard Harley Fischer hit a driving basket and then immediately made a defensive steal and hit the bucket and it was 18-14 Broncs. Jensen and Freshman Dylan Stedille each had assists to Garza who hit both shots and Belle’s lead was 22-16. Jensen then again hit another trey near end of the half and Belle would go to the break leading 25-20.
Both squads came out cold in the second half especially the Comets as they were only able to score one point. The Broncs went on a 7-0 run that started with Chloe Crago taking a charging foul. Wilbur put in a bucket off a missed free throw and Tia Williamson hit a streaking Jensen to put the Broncs up 31-21. Wilbur finished up with a nice turnaround jumper on the block and the Lady Broncs took a twelve point 33-21 lead into the final stanza.
The Comets would then go on a tear with Kieffer and senior Skylar Armendariz doing most of the damage. They would go on a 16-4 run to tie the score at 37 with 2:45 to play. The Comets then stole an inbound pass and hit yet another 3 pointer and a long breakaway lay in to stretch the lead to 42-39. The Broncs would get some good looks on shots but couldn’t convert and Christian would hit a few free throws to finish off the game.
Jensen led the Broncs attack with 15 points and seven rebounds. Garza and Wilbur chipped in with 8 points each. Kieffer led all scorers with 21 for the visitors.
In the B game the Lady Broncs defeated the Lady Comets 52-9. Grace Clooten led Belle with 11 points and 8 rebounds.
The Lady Broncs opened their senior night against the Custer Wildcats wanting to get back in the win column after the tough loss to Christian. They came out firing as Junior forward Bella Jensen and senior point guard Harley Fischer hit back to back three pointers and Belle had the early 6-0 lead. Custer would battle back to go up 12-7 but Belle would cut the lead on a driving hoop by freshman Tia Williamson and a put back on a missed free throw by Hayley Wilbur and it was 12-10 Custer. Custer would extend the lead to 16-10 but Kaylin Garza would trim the margin with a bucket in the paint and the quarter ended with the Wildcats up 16-12.
Belle would go on a 7-2 run to start the second quarter on a three by Jensen with a pair of made free throws. Williamson would get a put back bucket and Belle led 19-17. An 11-1 run by the Broncs was fueled by their defense forcing two 10 second violations. Fischer would hit 2 three pointers and two at the charity stripe during the run and Belle went to the lockers up 30-18.
There would be no let down tonight as happened during the Christian game, although Custer started out the third quarter with a short 6-2 run making it 32-24 Broncs. Belle would then outscore the Wildcats 13-0 led by the inside play of Garza, Wilbur and Williamson who had a buzzer beater and the Broncs led 45-24 after three. Belle’s defense would then take over and Custer’s shooting went cold as they held the Lady Cats to just 2 points in the fourth quarter and coasted to win 57-26.
Jensen led all scorers with 18 for the Broncs with Fischer adding 13. Garza and Wilbur led the rebounding stats with 7 clears each. Belle shot 44% from the field for the evening including 5 three pointers. The Ladies are now 12-5 and just out of the second seed behind Hill City for the regional matchups.
The JV Lady Broncs picked up a 45-30 win over the Lady Wildcats JV squad. Tia Williamson led the way with 14 points and 8 rebounds. Kylee Crago added 9 points and led the way with 9 boards also. Dru Keegan was cited for her lock down defense on the Cats.
