Lovell Middle School eighth graders capture conference crown

The Lovell Middle School seventh- and eighth-grade boys basketball teams attended their respective Yellowstone Conference tournament Saturday, and the eighth graders brought home a trophy.

The eighth-grade team came out of their tournament in Powell crowned first-place champions.

They first played Cody, winning 37-26. Cody remained tough and fought the whole game, but the Bulldogs’ constant defensive pressure and overall determination as a team gave them the edge in the end, head coach Stephany Durtsche said.

Reigo Romero led the teams scoring with 12 points, with Kannon Owens right behind, scoring 11. Mac Morgan added 9 points, and Easton Morgan gave the team 3.

Moving on to the semifinals, the boys competed against Worland, coming out with another victory, 41-35. Worland was yet another challenging opponent due to their maturity and size over the Bulldogs, Durtsche said, but the Bulldogs still consistently played as a team, giving their all throughout the game.

Shifting their defense, the Bulldogs were able to limit Worland’s strength of driving to the rim, Durtsche said. Lovell trailed in the first half but made a strong effort to box out and control the boards, leading them to a tie in the fourth quarter, the coach said, adding that, once they took the lead, they secured it by taking care of the ball and making steals against Worland.

“This game was a true testament that showed just how far the boys have come as a team this year,” Durtsche said.

Mac Morgan led with 13 points, with Owens close behind, scoring 12 points. Mike Cornia contributed 6 points, and Weston Hendershot added 4.

For the championship game, the boys competed against Powell. Lovell had played three games back-to-back, yet still played with heart and mental toughness, Durtsche said, adding that the Bulldogs showed their perseverance to win it all by doing the little things and winning the small battles throughout the game. Transitioning with a faster pace, the boys concluded the tournament with a victory, 61-35.

Coach Durtsche commented on the boys’ hard work, stating, “The boys’ growth this season and the team’s success achieved together is proof of the hard work and dedication of our players, the unity and trust of our team and coaching staff and the constant support of the parents.”

In his final game, Mac Morgan excelled, scoring 26 points for his team’s victory. Owens contributed 10, Hendershot 7. Both Hudson Miller and Romero gave the team an additional 6 points.

Seventh grade

The Lovell seventh-grade team played their hearts out as they hosted the conference tournament. Their first matchup was against Powell, and the boys didn’t let Powell take much of a lead until the fourth quarter, falling 47-31.

“Though behind, the boys never gave up and showed just how much they have improved since the beginning of the season,” coach Collin McArthur said.

Dane Wilson led the team with 13 points, and Bradley Mickelson added 7. Both Mason Kitchen and Xaden Baxendale scored 3 points, Landen Peterson and Garrett Henley 2.

Lovell then played a roller coaster of a game against Lander for consolation. The boys found themselves with a 12-point deficit with only two minutes remaining, and they fought hard to be behind by only 3 points with 20 seconds to go.

They mapped out a play in which the ball was passed to Mickelson, and he took a shot from NBA range and hit nothing but net, tying the game and sending the game into overtime. In overtime, the boys got a lead of two, and Jackson Sanders launched a dagger, sealing a much-deserved victory for the Bulldogs, 42-40.

After the game, Coach McArthur said, “It was one of the most exciting wins I have been a part of, and getting to celebrate it with the boys was the best way to end our season. We couldn’t have asked for a better group of boys. It was a blessing getting to work with them and see them grow.”

Mickelson led the team with 19 points. Henley added 6, Sanders 2.