Ranger girls hit their stride

With the toughest matchups behind them, the Hill City Ranger girls basketball team has hit its stride, going on a four-game winning streak and tipping the record scale back in its favor with three big wins last week.

“Our schedule gears us up for some really tough games in the beginning of the season. It’s not only a physical battle for these girls, but it can become just as much a tough mental battle as well,” said head coach Anna Eckert. “I think they are starting to understand that basketball is a process, and that we need to keep improving daily.”

Heading into Tuesday night’s matchup against Belle Fourche, Eckert knew they needed to put together four solid quarters of basketball.

“We wanted to come out harder than we did against Sundance in the first quarter,” she said. 

The Rangers came out with a balanced attack, putting up 16 first-quarter points between six scorers while the Broncs trailed by just one going into the second.

Belle Fourche briefly took the lead after feeding Mya Nowowiejski the ball in the paint, but Daril Frandsen answered back, stealing the Broncs inbound in Ranger territory for the easy layup. 

The teams traded buckets until Lillie Ham was fouled inside, sinking one of two from the line to tie the game 21-21.

Eighth-grader Eden Wildeman drilled a three to retake Hill City’s lead 24-21, and the Rangers never looked back, outscoring the Broncs in the final two quarters to secure the 59-47 victory. 

The Ham sisters delivered a powerful one-two punch with Macie dominating the boards and adding nine points while Lillie led the offensive charge with 16.

“We had some great plays from the Ham sisters. Macie did a great job of grabbing boards and getting put backs and Lillie did great attacking the basket,” said Eckert.

Defensively, the Rangers’ pressure at the top of the key forced multiple turnovers for the Broncs that the Rangers converted offensively.

“Our guards did a really good job of pressuring their point guards and that helped give us momentum throughout the game,” Eckert said.

Coach Eckert noted the girls’ improved ball control.

“We have been working on taking care of the ball and taking pride in every possession. The girls did this better than they have in the past, and hopefully we just keep building on it,” she said.

Eckert also praised the team’s adjustments to Belle Fourche’s defensive changes.

“I was proud of how all the girls adjusted to what Belle Fourche threw at them,” said Eckert. “They moved the ball around the floor and looked for the open shot.”

The team braved the elements, travelling to Philip last Friday night to take on the Class B Scotties.

The Rangers’ pressure defense set the tone with its offense balanced across the bench.

“Our scoring distribution has been so good the last two games. If we can keep doing that, we’re going to be sitting OK,” said Eckert.

Philips’ Drew Terkildsen posed the biggest threat, putting up 22 of Philip’s 53 points of the game.

“When she’s on, she’s on,” said Eckert. “She’s left-handed, so you have to guard her differently. She’s just a good little player.”

The Rangers set a quicktempo with a fast-break pass from Alaina Dean to Demi Schrier under the basket for an easy layup.

Philip’s Kale Peterson answered with a layup of her own while L. Ham sank a free-throw to complete a three-point play for the Rangers.  

The Scotties took the reins, going on an eight-point run with back-to-back threes by Terkildsen and a pass inside to Peterson that put Philip in the lead.

Naiya Ginsbach showed off her range, also drilling back-to-back shots from beyond the arc to tip the scales back in the Rangers favor. A free-throw from L. Ham and a nice drive and finish at the rim by Jaelyn Peters put the Rangers up by three at the quarter, 17-14.

The Rangers offense gradually pulled away throughout the next two quarters, running away with it in the final, outscoring the Scotties 26-8 for a final of 82-55.

“Lillie and Macie did a really good job on the boards and on the put-backs,” Eckert said. 

She also credited the fast tempo and limited turnovers to the Rangers win.

The following day, the Rangers hosted Alliance, Neb., at home where they got off to a slow start, allowing Alliance to open with an unanswered eight point run.

The Rangers were able to dig their way out with a Dean drive followed by a Frandsen jumper and fast break that hit M. Ham on the run. The effort brought the Rangers back within a one point possession. Hill City managed to edge ahead by one by the end of the quarter.

Momentum shifted firmly in the Rangers favor in the second as they outscored the Bulldogs 20-7. L. Ham proved to be a powerhouse for the Rangers offense, scoring 12 of her 14 points in the first half that ended with a Ranger lead, 34-23 at the break.

Dean hit her stride in the third quarter, putting up 10 of her 17 points, while Demi Schrier dominated the fourth with 10 of Hill City’s 11 points in the quarter. The Rangers held Alliance to just four points in the final frame to secure a 70-35 victory, bringing the Rangers season back into the black, improving their record to 7-6.

“Winning helps build the confidence that the girls should already have in themselves,” said Eckert. “I get excited. I think maybe they are starting to hit some good strides.”

The Rangers hit the road this week traveling to Sturgis Brown High School  Tuesday and Wall Thursday. Results will appear in next week’s publication.

Hill City         16 13 15 15-59

Belle Fourche 15 11 11 10-47

Alaina Dean 6, Daril Frandsen 8, Kinsey Dillavou 4, Demi Schrier 1, Jaelyn Peters 3, Andee Frandsen 2, Lillie Ham 16, Macie Ham 9, Naiya Ginsbach 7, Eden Wildeman 3.

Hill City            7 15 24 26-82

Philip               14-12-21-8-55

Alaina Dean 12, Daril Frandsen 8, Kinsey Dillavou 6, Aspen Veneklasen 2, Demi Schrier 6, Jaelyn Peterson 2, Andee Frandsen 2, Lillie Ham 17, Macie Ham 12, Naiya Ginsbach 15.

Hill City          14 20 25 11-70

Alliance           13  7  11  4-35

Alaina Dean 17, Daril Frandsen 8, Kinsey Dillavou 2, Demi Schrier 10, Lillie Ham 14, Macie Ham 6, Naiya Ginsbach 1.