Bulldogs knock off Prairie to secure second seed in conference

Peetz clinched the second seed in the upcoming North Central playoffs by turning back league rival Prairie 64-55 in New Raymer, Colo. on Wednesday night.

The Bulldogs advanced their record to 10-6 overall and 7-2 in league play. The two losses Peetz suffered in 1A North Central this season were both to Briggsdale. The Falcons have clinched the top position in the upcoming playoffs.

For the Bulldogs on Wednesday it was a tale of two halves. While Josh Fiscus and Tre Lewis both finished with 21 points, the outside shooting of Fiscus and Bradey Holtz told much of the first-half story.

In the second, the Bulldogs looked more to Lewis on the post--and he responded.

Fiscus scored 16 first-half points and Holtz 9. Lewis had 16 of his 21 in the second half from close range.

"When we play as a team we're hard to stop," said Lewis. "Teamwork--that's the strength of this team."

Fiscus and Holtz got into the action right from the jump as each sank a three pointer for a quick 6-0 lead. Fiscus fired his from NBA range.

But the first eight minutes was a back-and-forth affair, with plenty of fireworks. Among the 38 points scored by both teams, 18 were via the three-pointer. Each squad nailed three.

For the game the Bulldogs topped the Mustangs from behind the arc 9-5. Fiscus led all players with 4 while Holtz had 3. When the first-period horn sounded the home Mustangs led 20-18.

"Ball movement. When we move the ball around as well as we did tonight we end up with a lot of open shots," said Fiscus. "Bradey and I got the ball in some good spots where it was pretty hard to miss."

Peetz seized control of the game in the second quarter to take a 12-point lead with 1:54 left until the half. Lewis began the second-period action by completing a three-point play. Holtz later sank a pair from beyond the bend and Fiscus another. Though the Bulldogs established a 37-25 lead, Prairie finished the quarter on a 9-0 run.

When a buzzer beating trey by Will Keelan fell, the Mustangs had renewed hope trailing only 3 at 37-34.

"Sometimes we needed to hustle a little more but we played a pretty solid game overall," said another of the Bulldogs 6-0 freshmen Cody Wilson.

Prairie opened the second half as it finished the first. When T.J. Hubbard hit from three-point land 18 seconds in, the game was tied for the first time since the opening quarter.

But the Bulldogs showed their versitility by changing tactics. Prairie struggled to keep up.

After a two-point jumper by Fiscus broke the deadlock at 37, the Bulldogs looked inside on three straight possessions. Holtz got the momentum started when he fed Lewis, who did the rest. Wilson followed 15 seconds later when he completed a three-point play after being fouled in the act of sinking a layup. When Lewis hit again from the post, Peetz led 46-37 lead and never again trailed.

As the Bulldogs took fewer outside shots, they registered only one trey in the third period. Corbin Heller drained the distance shot just as Prairie was threatening another comeback. Heller's bomb turned a 46-41 contest into a 49-41 roll.

By the end of the third period the 'Dogs maintained that 8-point advantage at 53-45.

A Lewis turn-around jumper started the final frame and set the tone for the last eight minutes. As he did in the third quarter, Lewis scored 8 points. When Fiscus hit a three to give Peetz a 64-51 lead with 1:29 left the contest was all but over.

"We started slow but our pressure sped up the game and we were able to take control," said Bulldogs Head Coach Bill Fiscus.

Lewis, Heller and Wilson led the team in rebounds with 8, 7 and 6 respectively. Wilson also aided the cause with 7 steals and 3 assists. Holtz had 4 steals.

The Bulldogs will have all they can handle on Friday when Caliche comes to town. the Buffaloes are 14-1 this season. The junior varsity action is set to tip off at 4 p.m.

Boys Basketball

Peetz 64

Prairie 55