Bulldogs Outscore Fusion During Friday’s Action

The Bainville Bulldogs kept their impressive run at the Eastern C divisional tournament going by beating Richey/Lambert, 46-43, in loser-out play on Friday, March 4.

The Bulldogs led by only two points until Charles Butikofer came through with a three-pointer for a 43-38 margin with 2:13 remaining.

After the Fusion’s Grady Gonsioroski drove in for a basket and later hit a free throw, Bainville’s defense held tough the rest of the way. Two free throws by Jesse Strickland put the margin at 45-41 with only 15 seconds left.

Gonsioroski scored with six seconds left, but Strickland hit another free throw for the 46-43 final.

J. Strickland led the Bulldogs with 17 points. Also scoring were C. Butikofer with nine, Ayden Knudsen with nine, Alex Strickland with five, Braeden Romo with four and Samuel Butikofer with two.

A. Strickland finished with 11 rebounds. Knudsen and A. Strickland each had three steals.

Gonsioroski finished with 25 points to lead the Fusion. Joshua Sponheim also reached double figures with 10 points.

Austin Lien grabbed 10 rebounds.

The Bulldogs opened the contest by jumping out to a 10-2 lead as J. Strickland scored four of the points. Bainville held a 10-4 advantage at the end of the period.

Richey/Lambert gained a 14-13 advantage when Gonsioroski ran off eight straight points in the second quarter. The Bulldogs regained the lead on a free throw by J. Strickland and a three-pointer by A. Strickland. The half ended with Bainville up 23-22.

Behind by a 28-27 margin, the Bulldogs got their offensive attack going with a drive by J. Strickland, a steal and layup by Knudsen, a basket off a rebound by C. Butikofer, a drive by Romo and a free throw by J. Strickland for a 36-28 advantage.

The Bulldogs led 38-34 after three quarters of play.