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A second half offensive surge by the Broncos was not enough to overcome a 25-point run by the Dana Vikings, as HC lost 88-83 Wednesday in Blair, Neb.
"A team doesn't have to be better than you for 30 games, they just have to be better than you for 40 minutes and Dana was tonight," said Lance Creech, head coach, in an interview with KHAS radio.
HC started the game up 6-2 but Dana answered with a 25-0 run to give the Vikings a 27-6 lead with just under 11 minutes to play in the first half.
Dana got six early points from junior Taylor Oltjenbruns on two field goals. Senior Tristan Washington controlled the rebounds early for the Vikings.
HC answered with a 9-3 run, including a three-pointer from freshman Dane Bacon to cut the lead to 15 with less than six minutes to play.
Bacon added another three-pointer with less than five minutes to play, but Dana got two three-pointers from senior AJ Arkfeld and one from senior Jake Brandl to extend its lead to 19, 40-21.
Slough hit a buzzer-beater from the line to end the first half but HC trailed the Vikings 47-29. Slough and Fletcher led the Broncos with seven points each in the first half. The Broncos went 11-for-35 from the floor and hit five of 22 three-pointers in the first half.
HC's offense started the second half with 17 points in six minutes. Dana scored 13 and was able to maintain a 14-point lead.
Bacon cut the Dana lead to ten points with six minutes left by hitting his third-three-pointer of the second half. The Broncos continued to close the gap as Vontz received a pass on the wing, hit the three-pointer and was fouled. Vontz made the free throw to make the score 78-70 with six minutes to play.
With 4:18 on the clock, senior Kyler Dossett received a pass from Slough, who connected from 14-feet and cut the Viking lead to five.
Slough connected with another three-pointer to cut the lead to four after a Dana field goal.
Alex McCleary for Dana put back an Oltjenbruns' miss, extending the lead to 86-78.
Fletcher connected on a three-pointer with 56 seconds left. Dana, with a three-point lead and under thirty seconds to play, could not find the rim, giving HC the ball after a shot clock violation.
Freshman Jake Marvin looked to have an answer for HC but his three-pointer from the right corner did not fall. Arkfeld hit both free-throws to seal the win for the Vikings, 88-83.
"We had been fortunate to dodge a few bullets when we shot well, unfortunately that wasn't the case tonight," Creech said.
HC fell to 22-6 overall (13-4 GPAC) and Dana improved to 9-18 overall (5-12 GPAC). HC will face Dakota Wesleyan Saturday in Mitchell, SD.
