Bulldogs celebrate championship season

Coaches, players, parents and community supporters gathered April 2 at the LHS Multipurpose Room to celebrate a 26-2 championship season for the Lovell Bulldog boys basketball team.

Head coach Shane Durtsche took the lead on stage for most of the evening and expressed gratitude to coaches, players, wives, supporters, school officials and more.

“Thank you for coming out,” Durtsche said. “Man, what a fun ride that was. It was fun for us as coaches and also the parents and community. With the number of fans and the amount of blue (in the stands) at the tournaments, you forget (when you’ve been away) how the community supports us. I was blown away my first year by how many people came out to games and then traveled to Thermopolis last year (for Regionals).

“This year there were a ton of people at the regional tournament (in Lander), and I was blown away by the numbers at State. As a coach, there were times when I caught myself just watching, like a proud father moment.”

Durtsche thanked the school board and administration, saying a program “can’t do it without support from the top.” He thanked athletic director Chris Edwards, who he said is “great to work with,” and school secretary April Price, who he said “does so much for all of us.” He thanked the Bulldog Booster Club and parent volunteers and members of the business community who helped fund camps and equipment.

“It takes a village, it truly does,” Durtsche said.

He thanked Cammie Brost, who he said is “awesome to have around” and is a fan as well as a great trainer, and he thanked his assistant coaches – Steven Durtsche (junior varsity), Nicc Crosby (freshmen), Jared Nicholls and Kevin Walker.

“To me, we had the best staff in the state,” Durtsche said. “What these guys do is second to none. Every single guy has a place – and the relationships they build.

“In games sometimes you get tunnel vision. Every decision I make is a staff decision. I appreciate the time they put in and the passion they have.”

Durtsche thanked the wives of the coaching staff, noting, “I know the sacrifice they make. We can’t do this without support at home. Thank you so much.”

Finally, Durtsche announced the team’s academic achievement award, noting the varsity team’s 3.55 grade point average.

Freshmen and sophomores

Assistant coach Crosby called freshmen and sophomores to the stage and thanked them for pushing the varsity team and helping implement the system in practice. He said there were a lot of juniors on the roster this season, which limited the junior varsity playing time for sophomores. Thus, a few sophomores participated in games with the freshmen, making the games C games rather than pure freshman games. 

Crosby said the team improved tremendously throughout the season, giving the example of games against Greybull.

“At the beginning of the year we could hardly take care of the ball against Greybull, and by the end of the year we slaughtered those dudes,” Crosby said. “I told the guys that, if you stick with me and work hard, it will pay off. They kept coming to practice and working hard, and they found roles.”

Junior varsity

JV coach Steve Durtsche said the junior varsity season was “pretty darn good” and said the team competed hard in nearly every game.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to coach the JV boys,” he said. “Thank you for letting me be your coach.”

Shane Durtsche said Crosby and his brother did a great job with the freshmen and JVs and said Steven was “the perfect guy to be with the JVs personality wise.” He added that the three teams are part of a program and that all levels are important. He said the teams practice together quite a bit and “do difficult things together to build the team.” He thanked the older players for taking younger players under their wing.

Varsity team

“What a season for these guys,” Shane Durtsche said, adding that he can be a demanding coach, but the players put in the work.

“I appreciate them,” he continued. “Honestly, for a coach this was a dream season. First, they’re great young men. I don’t have to worry about them. And what a group talent wise.”

Durtsche said the team goal in his first year was simply to be better each week and “be a scary team by Regionals,” adding that winning one game at Regionals would be good. (The team won two and made the state tournament, winning one game in Casper.)

Last season the Bulldogs had higher expectations, Durtsche said, and placed second at the regional tournament, then won the consolation championship at State.

Going into this season, the team didn’t talk about winning a state title but “worried about the process” of trying to get better, Durtsche said. The team won every regular season tournament and went to Regionals in Lander with the goal of winning the tournament, he said, noting, “That was the expectation.” After beating Cody for the regional title, the Bulldogs turned their attention to the state tournament.

“The first time we officially talked about winning a state championship was that week,” Durtsche said, “and we went one game at a time.

“We wanted to be the best team at the state tournament, and during a meeting I admitted to them that they were pretty good and admitted that maybe they were the best team we’ve had (in Lovell). It was special to do what they did at the 3A level.”

Durtsche said ’24-25 was a special season for the Bulldogs, going 26-2 and beating Cody – dropping down from Class 4A – three times. And one of the things that made it possible was the unselfish nature of the team, he noted.

“Not one of these guys cared about their stats,” Durtsche said. “They wanted to win.”

Talking about individual players, Durtsche noted, “We went as Matthew (Newman) went, and all Davin (Crosby) wanted to do was win. He noted Owen Edwards’ defense and ability to get up and down the floor, and he talked about Kyle Wilson and Robert Romero off the bench, noting, “We knew Robert could come in and get us a bucket any time we needed.”

Durtsche said all members of the varsity team were capable of contributing when called upon, remarking that senior James Blau was an excellent post player who would start on most other teams, adding that one coach told him, “I’d take him right now.”

He called the work of all players in practice “iron sharpening iron” and said the championship wouldn’t have happened without every player in the program. He said it was a dream come true to “have this season and work with these guys.”

Postseason awards

Durtsche noted all-state players Newman, Owen Walker and Jace Nicholls, all-conference player Kaeson Anderson and conference defensive player of the year Crosby, with Walker and Nicholls also on the all-defensive team.

“I felt like I had five dudes,” Durtsche said.

He thanked seniors Nicholls, Crosby, Romero and Blau, noting that he had Crosby, Romero and Blau in the program for three years and they were a big part of building the program with their hard work and dedication. And when Nicholls arrived from Casper, he fit in so well that it was like he had “been here the whole time.”

“We wouldn’t be here without your dedication and leadership,” Durtsche told the seniors. “Thank you for doing everything for the program, and I’m happy you ended your career with a championship. You’ve earned it.”

Durtsche also thanked team captains Crosby, Walker and Nicholls, who were voted on by teammates at the start of the season. 

“Davin is the heart and soul of what we represent, the work he puts in,” Durtsche said of Crosby. “He does everything I preach, everything I like. This is his second year as a captain, which is voted by the team.

“Jace isn’t as vocal but is a natural leader, picking guys up. He brought a toughness like Davin and instilled confidence in the younger guys. Owen is a quiet leader. He was positive and led by example.”

Finally, Durtsche thanked all of the moms in the room for their support, noting “team dinners, snacks – I don’t even know the half of it,” and he added, “This wouldn’t have happened without you behind the scenes.”

 He also thanked the Lovell Chronicle for coverage throughout the season.

The seniors also honored Durtsche with a plaque commemorating his award as Class 3A West Coach of the Year.