Thunder boys meet two West River opponents

The Thunder boys played a pair of West River varsity  basketball opponents on Monday, Feb. 12 and on Saturday, Feb. 17. They would be defeated 71-41 by Wakpala in their earlier game on the road and then lost a 56-33 decision at home in Bowdle versus McLaughlin..

The earlier game featured a 16-16 first-quarter tie, but the hosts would go ahead 41-25 at halftime. They then led 63-35 with a quarter to play and coasted to their victory.

The Thunder obtained 21 points by Raynor Sprague and he included six treys. Dawson Walz was next with nine points and Zane Haar had six points. Next would be Brady Beitelspacher with four points and Cole Beitelspacher had one free throw. They were 11-28 in two-point field goals and 2-14 in treys. They added 13 accurate free throws in 23 tries.

The hosts were led by Lane Cadotte and Zachary Moran with 23 points each and Tavaughn Steele added 11 counters.  Four additional players scored. They were 19-33 in two-point floor shots and 10-22 in treys. They added three free throws.

The Thunder had four rebounds apiece by Trent Beyers and Walz and totaled 20 rebounds. Their opponents claimed 37 boards. The Thunder and their hosts each sustained 20 turnovers. The Thunder offset 13 of them with steals.

Meanwhile McLaughlin obtained a 19-9 first-quarter lead and would go ahead 33-15 at intermission.  They then led 46-31 at the third break.

But the Thunder had quite a balanced attack that evening led by Sprague who scored eight points including a trey and Walz also with eight points. Kobe Wherry added five points and Donovan Nelson scored four points. Cooper Oxner had a trey for his three points and Cole Beitelspacher also scored three points. Jade Jacobs added two points.

McLaughlin answered with 15 points by Reymin Yellow Earings and Cassidy Demery with 13 points. Six other players scored. They were a warm 20-34 in two-points baskets and 4-21 in treys. They would add four accurate free throws.

McLaughlin grabbed 31 rebounds and the Thunder, 30 retrieves, led by Haar with six grabs and Sprague with five. The visitors had only 15 turnovers and the Thunder 26 turnovers but with 10 off-setting steals. They were led by Sprague with three thefts.

The North Central boys were scheduled to play Great Plains Lutheran on Monday in Aberdeen. They will finish the regular season on Feb. 23 versus Sully Buttes in the Edmunds Central School in Roscoe.