The Sully Buttes Charger girls and boys basketball teams had more than their hands full in Faulkton Thursday night, with the girls falling hard against the scrappy Trojans by the final of 57-29, while the Charger boys needed their defense and key shots to hold off the Trojan boys 57-55 to wrap up the basketball doubleheader season, in physical contests.
The Charger girls trailed 24-15 at the half, and then proceeded to commit turnover after turnover to an aggressive Faulkton defense as the Trojans zoomed out to a 49-21 third quarter lead and the mercy rule kept the clock running in the fourth as Faulkton eased up on their midcourt trap and coasted to victory pushing their record to 13-7 on the season.
Sully Buttes had a total of 29 points, but turned the ball over 28 times in the game and saw their record drop to 8-11 to close out the regular season. Payge Bakker once again led in scoring with 19 points while Faulkton was led by Presleigh Martinmaas’s 24, the majority of those coming on breakaway layups after a Charger turnover.
Sully Buttes will now await the wrap up of the regular season to find out where they will play in the postseason which starts next week.
The Sully Buttes boys led after each quarter break, 15-9, 27-22, and 41-40 with the Faulkton boys hitting big shots to keep it close, and in a few instances took the lead, only to have the Chargers battle back.
Wesley Wittler, the leading scorer all season for Sully Buttes, went down midway through the first quarter with an ankle injury, and was taken out of the game later. Wittler didn’t have his usual rhythm on the offensive end, but made up for it with rebounding and steals on defense. Wittler still finished in double figures with 13 points. Gavin Colson, having a breakout second half of the season, finished with 20 points. Faulkton was led by Gian DiMaria and Weston Senn, each totaling 11 points.
The Charger boys up their season mark to 13-4, while Faulkton slips to 8-12 on the year.
Next up for Charger sports on Country 95.3FM will be the Sully Buttes girls in the postseason. The Charger boys will be at the Warner Classic Saturday afternoon facing Lower Brule, with a tip time at 2:30. Due to scheduling commitments the game will not be broadcast. The next Charger boys broadcast will be a week from Friday at home to close out the season against North Central.
