Bulldogs Lose At Buzzer To Fusion

It was a very tough way to end a first-round game for Bainville’s boys’ basketball team at the District 2C tournament in Sidney on Tuesday, Feb. 15.

Grady Gonsioroski of the Richey/Lambert Fusion made about a 35-foot shot off the backboard at the buzzer to beat the Bulldogs, 60-57, in an exciting back-and-forth opening-round contest.

The Bulldogs displayed great determination to make the game be decided in the final seconds. Behind by a 46-38 margin entering the last quarter, Bainville still trailed 50-43 until Jesse Strickland hit a three-pointer with 3:59 left.

After free throws by Gonsioroski and Joshua Sponheim, Strickland fired in another three-pointer to cut the gap to 52-49 with 3:08 remaining.

Strickland, an extremely quick senior guard, then hit two free throws and scored off a pass from Ayden Knudsen to put Bainville in the lead at 53-52 with 2:15 left.

The Fusion, however, came right back on a three-pointer by Gonsioroski with 2:03 remaining.

The Bulldogs moved back ahead when Strickland accounted for a three-point play. A free throw by Knudsen put the Bulldogs up, 57-55, with 1:07 left.

Richey/Lambert tied the game on a 15-footer by Gonsioroski with 41 seconds remaining.

After both teams missed scoring opportunities, Bainville had the ball with three seconds left. A long pass attempt was intercepted by Gonsioroski and the senior raced down to deliver his game-winning shot.

Top scorers for Bainville were Strickland with 22, Braeden Romo with 16 and Knudsen with 10.

Also scoring for the Bulldogs were Samuel Butikofer with seven and Alex Strickland with two.

Romo finished with four assists and five rebounds.

Gonsioroski finished with 29 points. Brett Mullin scored 18 and Sponheim added 11 points.