Ranger boys win at buzzer in overtime

Passing low — Codee Sgdalen looks to pass the ball down low against the Lady Bulldogs of Sundance. The Lady Rangers won the game and improved their record to 9 and 5.[Submitted Photo]

By Blake Gardner

Hill City won against a Black Hills Conference rival on Friday, Jan. 13. The back and forth game would need more than just four quarters to decide a winner.
The Rangers missed a shot at the end of regulation to beat Lead-Deadwood. The Rangers were shooting a free throw with three seconds in overtime in a tie game. Hill City missed the free throw, but the ball bounced into senior Jared Price’s hands for the game-winning shot with less than one second to go in the game.
The Rangers stormed the court as John Lucas had 14 points and 11 rebounds and Derek Skillingstad had 28 points and 14 rebounds. The Rangers won 60-58 in the first overtime.
Next, the Rangers traveled to Sundance, Wyo., for a matchup that has experienced several close games over the last 10 years. This game would be no different.
Hill City trailed by as much as 10 points in the fourth quarter, but tightened up the defense to allow Sundance only four points in the fourth quarter. In this game, the Rangers were again able to play for the last shot of the game by holding the ball for the final minute. Tied at 49 with 12 seconds to play, Gage Skillingstad drove baseline and John Lucas got open for a 15 foot jump shot at the buzzer for the win. Derek Skillingstad had 21 points and Gage Skillingstad had 10. The Rangers won 51-49.
Saturday the Rangers played Spearfish. The Spartans recently joined class A basketball this year and dominated the game from the opening tip. One positive was the play of senior Dietric McConnell, who has been the spark plug for the Rangers all season. Dietric finished with 12 points and several tipped balls on defense.
The next action for the Rangers is Thursday, Jan. 26, against Wall (JV at 5:30 p.m.; Varsity at 7 p.m.) and on Friday, Jan. 27, against Hot Springs (boys and girls double header: JV games at 4 p.m.; girls Varsity at 5:45 p.m., boys Varsity at 7 p.m.).