Dodger boys handle Highland in season opener

By John Dalton

The Dodger boys’ basketball team won its first game of the season in convincing style 79-53 over host Highland in a non-conference game Monday night.  

Dodger Bryce Crubaugh-Lockard hit a 3-point shot to start the game and the Dodgers never trailed in the game after the fact.  Highland struggled early to find the basket going nearly six minutes before Jack Tarrell connected on a 3-point shot to end the drought for the Cardinals.  

After Crubaugh-Lockard’s opening shot, the Dodgers scored in the paint with a basket by Isiah Argall, two hoops by Andrew Hessling and a bucket by Blake Stodola.  After a Jentry Olson jumper and another 3-point shot by Crubaugh-Lockard, the Dodgers found themselves up 16-5 midway through the first half.  

"Missed shots and turnovers early cost us," Highland Head Coach Rich Hill said following the game.  "We didn't shoot very well."

The Dodgers would take a 35-23 lead into halftime, and just seconds into the second half, Crubaugh-Lockard hit another 3-point shot to get the Dodgers rolling.  Ten Dodgers scored in this contest.  Crubaugh-Lockard led all scorers in the game with 24 points.  Tarrell led Highland with 23 points followed by Kaden Washa with 13. 

Dodgeville’s pressure defense made it difficult for Highland on the night, creating many turnovers that transitioned into Dodger baskets.  “We did a lot of things well for being the first game.  We emphasized the transition, and we got a decent amount of transition points,” said Dodger Head Coach Matt McGraw following the game.  

“We knew they were going to play a lot of 2-3 defense, and we implemented a new zone offense this year that I feel we executed it really well, we got a lot of high lows and short corner to high-post dives, things we’ve been looking for in practice, and I was happy with our execution overall,” he said.  

After their win against Riverdale last week 55-53, the Cardinals fell to 1-1 in the young season with a young squad.  “We competed,” Hill said of this team’s performance.  “I thought the game was closer than the score.  It would have been different by halftime if we had made the bunnies we missed.”

"But we are a young team and we are learning,” Hill added.  "Seeing that kind of pressure will help us.  Dodgeville will do well this year, and they have good depth.  We had our hands full.  We know we have plenty to work on but the good thing about this game is we didn't give up."

“I’m proud of the guys, it was our first game, you can do things well and not so well in practice, and you really want to see what they can do in a game situation, and they showed that tonight that we are onto good things,” McGraw said of his Dodger squad.  

Next up for Highland is a home conference game Thursday night against Shullsburg.  The Dodgers will host Darlington Thursday night.  Both games are scheduled to tip off at 7:30 p.m.  For video highlights check out the Dodgeville Chronicle Facebook page.  

Box Score

Dodgeville 35 – 44 – 79

Highland 23 – 30 – 53

Dodgeville (fg-ft-tp); Bryce Crubaugh-Lockard 10-0-24, Elliot Hessling 5-2-12, Jayce Halverson 5-0-10, Isiah Argall 3-2-9, Jentry Olson 3-0-7, Brock Fockler 2-1-5, Blake Stodola 2-0-4, Andrew Hessling 2-0-4, Griffin Busch 1-0-2, Jaxson Jabs 1-0-2.

3-pointers; Crubaugh-Lockard 4, Argall 1, Olson 1.  

Highland (fg-ft-tp); Jack Tarrell 7-6-23, Kaden Washa 5-2-13, Arthur Hay 2-3-9, Brady Nankey 3-0-7, Liam Thielorn 0-1-1.  

3-pointers; Tarrell 3, Hay 2, Washa 1, Nankey 1.