Bulldogs survive rough third to stop Worland

By David Peck
The Lovell Bulldogs played three quarters of strong basketball and suffered through one quarter of scary ball as they opened conference play at home against the Worland Warriors Friday at Winterholler Gym.
Perhaps inspired by their first home game of the season, the Bulldogs broke out of the starting gate with gusto and lead the Warriors 15-8 at the end of the first quarter behind 7 points from Parker Anderson and 5 from Owen Walker.
“We came out with energy and were excited to play at home,” head coach Shane Durtsche said. “We played pretty good defense, and we came out aggressively on offense and attacked. We got some easy buckets early.
“Our defense was solid, and we forced them into a couple of turnovers. Both Owen and Parker came out aggressively and had good first halves.”
Indeed, Lovell outscored Worland 13-8 in the second quarter to lead 28-16 at halftime as Walker scored 11 points in the first half, Anderson 10. Matthew Newman chipped in with 6.
“It was more of the same in the second quarter. We were cruising along,” Durtsche said. “We were moving the basketball and attacking. We had good shots.”
Worland came out guns ablazin’ in the third quarter and outscored the Bulldogs 25-9 to take a 41-37 lead after three. The Warriors knocked down five three-pointers in the quarter.
“She shot lights out,” Durtsche said. “When a quarter like that happens you tip your hat to them. They came after us defensively, and they got hot. They hit some tough, contested threes, though we did have some breakdowns and left them open.
“We also had some quick turnovers to give the ball right back to them (after a Worland basket). It seemed like they scored on every possession.”
Worland scored 16 points in the first four minutes of the third quarter, Durtsche said.
“You tip your cap to them,” he said. “They came out and played very well. It’s part of growing up. We didn’t handle it well. We had some good looks and didn’t score well. Everything went their way in that quarter.”
The Bulldogs came roaring back in the fourth quarter, outscoring the visitors from Washakie County 15-5 to win by six points, outscoring Worland 11-0 down the stretch.
“We locked down on defense, and they came back to earth offensively,” Durtsche said. “We took better care of the basketball and got good looks.
“We controlled every quarter except the third. I was proud of my guys. We’re still relatively young. When they made that run we could have pulled up our tent stakes and called it a night. But we were resilient and fought back and regained control of the game.”
Durtsche noted that freshman Kaeson Anderson played well off the bench and did a nice job on Worland’s Tyshon Swalstad while also scoring the basket that tied the score 46-46 during Lovell’s run to close out the game.
Older brother Parker Anderson finished with 23 points, Walker 16. Walker also finished with a team high 11 rebounds and three blocked shots, while Davin Crosby led the team with five assists, Parker Anderson four steals.
WORLAND (46)
Tyshon Swalstad 4 4-4 14, Tyler Kidgell 1 0-0 2, Owen Page 2 2-4 6, Bryan Caballero 5 0-0 14, Fisher Martinez 2 0-1 5, Chase Harris 2 1-2 5. Totals 16 7-11 46.
LOVELL (52)
Matthew Newman 3 0-0 6, Robert Romero 0 1-2 1, Owen Walker 7 1-1 16, Kaeson Anderson 1 0-0 2, Davin Crosby 0 1-2 1, Braxton Felkins 0 0-0 0, Parker Anderson 7 9-14 23, Blake Wilson 1 0-0 3. Totals 19 12-18 52.
Worland    8    8    25    5 – 46
Lovell    15    13    9    15 – 52
Three-point field goals – Caballero 4, Swalstad 2, Martinez 1; Walker 1, Wilson 1. Fouled out – Harris. Total fouls – Worland 22, Lovell 9.
Conference games
Now 11-3, the Bulldogs will host Powell tonight (Thursday) at 7 p.m. (JVs at 4), then travel to Thermopolis Friday for another 7 p.m. tap. Both varsity games are important conference games, Durtsche said.
Powell comes in at 11-0 but barely beat the Bulldogs in the championship game of the Big Horn Basin Classic January 13 in Thermopolis, 60-58.
“Powell has played together for a long time,” Durtsche said. “Three seniors have started since they were sophomores, and they start five seniors. They have a little bit of everything – shooting, athletics, size, and they’re physical. Honestly, they don’t have any weaknesses and are a balanced basketball team.
“We do match up with them well. I’m excited. We can play with them, but they’ll come in ready because we took ‘em to the brink (in Thermop). We’re in for a battle. Every conference game will be a battle.”
As important as Powell, if not more so, is Thermopolis on Friday night, Durtsche said, noting that the Bulldogs must beat the Bobcats to not fall below second place in the 3A Northwest. He said Thermop (8-4) is a strong team.
“They’re long and athletic and are streaky shooters,” Durtsch said. “If they get hot they can beat anybody. It’ll be a tough game down there.”
JVs
The Lovell junior varsity squad beat Worland 34-29 on Friday. The Bulldogs trailed 11-10 at halftime, they outscored the Warriors 24-18 in the second half.
Braxton Felkins led Lovell with 14 points, and Kyle Wilson added 8 points, Owen Edwards, Robert Romero and Kaeson Anderson 4 each.