Bulldogs blast Lyman and Mountain View

The Lovell Bulldogs appear to be peaking at the right time with the regional and state tournaments approaching as they made mincemeat of Lyman and Mountain View at home Friday and Saturday.

Both games reached the 40-point running clock mercy rule as the Bulldogs crushed Lyman 63-22 Friday and Mountain View 57-19 Saturday.

“Mountain View beat Worland Friday night (62-60), and Lyman played Worland close, and looking at how we totally dismantled both teams, we’re bouncing back and playing our best basketball of the season when we need to be,” head coach Shane Durtsche said. “Offensively, we looked a little better. We took good shots, and our decision-making, making that extra pass, was a little better with our movement and using screens, some of those little things.

“Our defense was really good in both games, and that helps. We seem to be jelling pretty well as we head into the postseason.”

Five different players scored the first five baskets against Lyman Friday night as Davin Crosby, Kaeson Anderson, Owen Walker, Jace Nicholls and Owen Edwards hit buckets. Lovell jumped out to a 9-0 lead, and Walker scored three baskets during an 8-0 run, including a fast-break dunk, as Lovell led 19-5 after the first quarter.

The Lovell blitzkrieg continued in the second quarter as the Bulldogs outscored Lyman 23-5 to lead 42-10 at halftime. Nicholls scored 9 points in the quarter, Walker and Anderson 5 each, Matthew Newman 4.

Lovell continued to pull away in the third quarter, outscoring Lyman 12-5 to lead 54-15 after three. Consecutive baskets by Anderson, Nicholls and Crosby got the running clock started early in the fourth quarter, and Lovell won going away, 63-22, as Durtsche worked substitutes into the lineup.

“With Robert (Romero) being hobbled, I’ve tried to work in some of those kids into the main rotation,” Durtsche said. “I want to see how they handle certain situations.”

The Bulldogs outrebounded Lyman 33-22 Friday, had 18 assists and swiped 19 steals, forcing Lyman into 28 turnovers.

“We’ve played very good team defense throughout the year,” Durtsche said. “Our communication has gotten better, which leads to better rotations and stopping the basketball. We’re doing well pressuring the basketball and looking for opportunities to trap the ballhandler. I liked the intensity on the weekend.”

Nicholls finished with 17 points, hitting eight of 12 shots from the field, and he tallied six steals and four assists. Walker finished with 13 points and 17 rebounds, Anderson 10 points and six assists. Newman added 9 points, Crosby 6, Kyle Wilson 3, Edwards and Brody Muller 2 each, James Blau 1.

Mountain View

Lovell led Mountain View 7-3 three minutes into the game Saturday, then finished the first quarter with a 14-0 run to lead 21-3 at the quarter break. Anderson drained a trio of treys in the quarter, and Walker added 7 points.

It was more of the same in the second quarter as Lovell outscored the visitors 19-6 to lead 40-9 at halftime.

The Bulldogs continued to pull away in the third quarter and reached the running clock at 52-12 on a spin-and-jumper move by Anderson. Lovell led 54-16 after three and won 57-19.

Lovell shot 46 percent from the field and held Mountain View to 14 percent shooting. The Bulldogs outrebounded Mountain View 38-17 and had 16 assists, eight steals and nine blocked shots.

Walker finished with 21 points on 10-of-14 shootings and added eight rebounds and three blocks. Anderson tallied 16 points and five rebounds, Newman 11 points, Edwards 4 points and six rebounds, Wilson 3 points and Nicholls 2 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.

Powell

The Bulldogs (19-2) will host Powell tonight (Thursday) at 4 (JVs) and 7 p.m., to wrap up the regular season, having already defeated the Panthers (13-7) twice this season.

“We need to come out, play well and be ready for them,” Durtsche said. “It will be a tough one for us. We’ll have to play good basketball, execute and play good defense.”

The Bulldogs will travel to Lander March 6-8 for the Class 3A West Regional Tournament.