The Sully Buttes Charger girls and boys came out on top in both varsity basketball matchups for the first time since before Christmas, as the Charger girls used a strong second half to cruise to a 52-32 win over Jones County, while the Charger boys held on at the end against a furious Coyote rally in the fourth quarter and escaped with a 54-53 win Tuesday night in Onida.
The Sully Buttes girls trailed at the half 18-15, but woke up in the second half and outscored the Coyotes 37-14, with crisp passing and pressure defense.Sully Buttes was led in scoring by Payge Bakker, who tallied 20 points, while Addyson Chicoine once again found her shot in the second half to score 16 for the 7-7 Chargers. The young Jones County Coyotes were led by freshman Sunny Valburg, who finished with 11 points, and Jacey Jensen who tallied nine for the 5-8 Yotes.
In the nightcap, the Charger boys used pressure defense against a taller Jones County boys team to take the lead 34-29 at the half, but slipped in the second half, with Jones County taking the lead midway through the fourth quarter. The Chargers’ Wesley Wittler hit three big threes to keep the Chargers close, but it was Gavin Colson who hit his only shot of the game, a three pointer, with under a minute remaining to give the Chargers the lead. Jones County had a couple of attempts miss and as the buzzer sounded, the Chargers escaped with a one point win.
The Chargers were led by Wittlers 22 points, while Logan Severson had a big night down low, and ended up with 13 for the 5-7 Chargers, while Jones County was led by senior Kaden Kinsley with 15 with 11 coming in the fourth. Jett Nix finished with 14 but only had two in the first half. Jones County is now 10-6 on the year.
Sully Buttes travels to Gettysburg Friday for a girls/boys doubleheader against the Potter County Battlers. The girls go first at about 6:15, and will be broadcast on Country 95.3FM.
