The Sully Buttes Charger girls needed a strong second half, and finally got it, to hold off the Hitchcock-Tulare Lady Patriots 50-42 , while the Charger boys and the Patriots literally played it down to the final buzzer, with Hitchcock-Tulare escaping with a 62-59 victory Thursday night in Onida.
The Charger girls trailed 21-18 at the half, and 33-31 after three, but Stevie Wittler helped jump start the offense, scoring nine of her 18 points in the final stanza to help the Chargers pull out the win. Lydia Hill added 16 points, while Allyson Wittler added 11 to help propel the 9-2 Sully Buttes girls. The 5-5 Lady Patriots were led in scoring by freshman Cambree Hoekman, who finished with 16 points, while sophomore Katelyn Schroeder added 15.
The Charger boys trailed 29-27 at the half, and 48-40 after three, but the Chargers scratched and clawed their way back to tie it at 59-59 with 14 seconds left to play, thanks to two key free throws by senior Landon Hepker, but a mere second before the final horn, junior Brayden Nowell launched a three from the top of the key, and it fell through to help the Patriots steal the victory.
Sully Buttes played tough against the Class 9B football state champion Patriots, with freshman Wesley Wittler once again scoring 20 points, while Hepker added 15, and Thomas Farries finished with 10 for the 1-9 Chargers. Hitchcock Tulare evens its’ record to 5-5.
Next up for Sully Buttes is a Saturday afternoon doubleheader against Warner. Both games can be heard on Country 95.3FM, with the voice of the Chargers DT Meyer.
