The curtain came down on the 2023-24 season for the Alliance girl’s basketball on Tuesday with a 28 to 25 loss to Scottsbluff in the Class B-8 sub district final. A late tying shot was no good by Alliance as the Bearcats now advance to the district final on Saturday. The contest played in Scottsbluff saw a defensive ball game with the Bulldogs staying close throughout. With the loss Alliance ends their year with a 9 and 16 record.
Both teams would enjoy the lead in the opening minutes of action. Alliance’s CC Hudson began the scoring with a two pointer that gave the Lady Bulldogs the early lead at 2 to 0. It was countered with a Bluffs three that put the hosts out in front at 3 to 2. Alliance answered with a three of their own by Haylie Winter at the four minute mark that gave the Dogs a lead at 5 to 3. Following a 2 pointer by the Bluffs a free throw by Jaelynne Clarke made the score 6 to 5 in favor of Alliance with under two minutes to play. The quarter closed with a Bearcat hoop and another Alliance 3 ball by Regan Braun. After one period of action the Bulldogs led 9 to 7. Points would be tough for Alliance to muster in the second. The quarter began with a 7 to 0 run by the Cats that put Alliance down 14 to 9. With under 2 minutes to play in the half the Bulldogs would finally get on the scoreboard with a basket by Macey Seebohm that cut their deficit to 14 to 11. The half closed with a Scottsbluff free throw and AHS behind 15 to 11.
Alliance’s defense was again stout in the third, limiting the Bearcats to just 3 baskets. Unfortunately all three were three pointers as the Cats held the lead. A Bluff’s three began the scoring which gave the Cats the lead at 18 to 11. A free throw by Clark plus a three by Seebohm cut the Alliance margin to 4 at 18 to 15 with under four minutes left in the period. Another trey by the Bluffs stopped the mini Alliance run as the Cat lead stood at 21 to 15. Seebohm answered with a free throw but another triple by Scottsbluff gave the Cats their biggest lead at 24 to 16 with under one minute left in the period. The quarter closed with a huge three by Braun and 2 more free throws by Seebohm. Heading to the fourth the Cats led 24 to 21.
The final 8 minutes of play began with another three pointer by the Bluffs to increase their margin to 6 at 27 to 21. A bucket by Clarke got Alliance to within 4 at 27 to 23 at the six minute mark. Both teams then went scoreless for the next 5 minutes as the Cat lead still stood at 4. Another two pointer by Clarke with under a minute left gave Alliance hope with the score now showing Bluffs ahead 27 to 25. Alliance was then forced to foul. Scottsbluff would convert one free throw and stop the Bulldogs’ final shots and go on to prevail 28 to 25.
ALL 9 2 10 4 25
SB 7 8 9 4 28
Seebohm was Alliance’s top scorer and rebounder. The Bulldog junior had a team-high 8 points while also grabbing 12 rebounds. Adding 6 points each were Clarke and Braun while finishing with 3 was Winter and tallying 2 was Hudson.