Bulldogs face uncertainty for postseason run
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ST. IGNATIUS — The Bulldogs have been teetering through a season of seesaw balance with sandbags outweighing the wrong side. With a 5-10 season record, the Bulldogs have come away with a few victories but those wins have been all non-conference, leaving them with an O’fer in league play, putting the Bulldogs in a position to have to challenge their way into a postseason spot with a play-in game.
“We’re playing hard,” Head Coach James Lozeau said. “We’re experiencing experience” in regard to the tough competition the Bulldogs have faced.
Despite the adversity the Bulldogs have faced on the court, Lozeau remains optimistic about the improvements his Bulldogs have made and the challenges his athletes have taken head on and overcome.
“We’re just trying to get better every week,” he said. “We’ve been successful in the past but its just trying to continue to be successful.”
With only four seniors, the Bulldogs are building towards a better tomorrow as experience should prove to be plentiful next season. Yet Lozeau is keeping his team focused on today, taking it one step at a time, getting the young team to where it needs to be on the 6-B circuit.
One thing is for sure, when it comes to points, Bulldog Aaron Fisher-Ahenakew has been tossing up plenty. The 6-foot, 4-inch senior has been the leading man on the court, netting top points in almost every game and averaging double digits every time his sneakers run the court.
Bulldogs Will Powell, Nick Durglo and Gentry Brown have also been providing much needed help when push comes to shove.
After dropping a pair over the last week of play, the Bulldogs will continue to work, according to Lozeau, and are not ready to give up just yet.
Friday the Bulldogs traveled to Arlee to take on the undefeated Class C Warriors.
In a heated close battle, the Bulldogs gained the upper hand in the third frame but couldn’t hold on as the Warriors ran away with the 62-76 win after a fourth quarter blow out on Arlee’s part.
Fisher-Ahenakew provided 18 points for the Bulldogs while Nick Durglo chipped in 14. Dennis Fisher-Ahenakew and Will Powell also hit double digits with D. Fisher-Ahenakew netting 13 and Powell helped with 10.
At home Saturday, after a troubling 3-16 first frame, the Bulldogs were forced to play catch up in the 6-B race, never gaining the edge they were looking for resulting in a 43-57 loss to Loyola-Sacred Heart’s Rams.
Fisher-Ahenakew led both teams at the net with a game high score of 17.
With only two regular season games left on the season and the ever so aggressive play-in game right around the corner, Lozeau said the Bulldogs will continue to work hard and hope to make some head way in the final week of play while working on specific plans of attack, as well as communication.
All and all, Lozeau is proud of his kids’ ability to fight and to keep their heads up. He’s ready to prove they will continue to progress and maybe even surprise a few teams come postseason.
“They work hard and these kids just don’t quit,” he said. “They don’t quit until the end of the horn and that’s what I am thankful for. Every one of them gives 100 percent every time.”
The final regular season week for the Bulldogs will consist of a pair of league games meeting up with the Chiefs in Ronan on Friday and their final game will be played at home hosting Troy on Saturday.
Results
Mission 15 16 20 11 – 62
Arlee 16 17 17 26 – 76
Aaron Fisher-Ahenakew 18, Nick Durglo 14, Dennis Fisher-Ahenakew 13, Will Powell 10, Gentry Brown 7.
Mission 3 19 13 8 – 43
Loyola-Sacred Heart 16 15 14 12 – 57
Aaron Fisher-Ahenakew 17, Nick Durglo 10, Dennis Fisher-Ahenakew 8, Raymond Matt 4, Robbie Erickson 2, Tate Weingart 2.
