Bainville Stops Wildcats At Eastern C Tournament

The Bainville Bulldogs gained the upper-hand in the third quarter and downed Plentywood, 65-50, during loser-out action at the Eastern C boys’ basketball tournament in Sidney on Thursday, March 3.

The Bulldogs trailed by a 28-27 half-time margin but struck first in the third quarter on a basket by Charles Butikofer.

After a drive by Plentywood’s Easton Tommerup, Bainville’s Braeden Romo fired in consecutive three-pointers for a 36-30 advantage. The Wildcats scored on a basket by Reese Wirtz, but the Bulldogs moved ahead 40-32 on a hoop by Romo and a coast-to-coast drive by Jesse Strickland.

During the third quarter’s final minutes, Ayden Knudsen scored off a rebound and then hit a three-pointer to put the Bulldogs up 47-36.

Bainville increased its advantage to 51-36 on hoops by Knudsen and Strickland to open the fourth quarter.

Ahead 55-44, the Bulldogs used a basket by Strickland, a free throw by Samuel Butikofer and a hoop by Charles Butikofer for a 60-44 cushion with 2:24 remaining.

Top scorers for the Bulldogs were Strickland with 23, Romo with 19 and C. Butikofer with 14 points. Also scoring were Knudsen with seven and S. Butikofer with two points.

Romo finished with nine rebounds. Knudsen dished out five assists.

Wirtz accounted for 17 of Plentywood’s points. Adding seven points each were Easton Tommerup, Noah Murray, Caydon Trupe and Cameron Brusven.