Bowman County Bulldogs root for a repeat Region championship

After successful the Area 7 title final season the Bowman County Bulldogs boys basketball program superior to take seventh place on the State Event. They goal to proceed their dominance this yr as they alter to new management.

Head coach Ronnie Stewart is new to the group and is taking on for Nick Walker who can be working as an Athletic Director in Killdeer this yr. Stewart has coached the Coronary heart River ladies basketball group in South Coronary heart for the final 4 years.

“There’s lots of pleasure in Bowman, our lady’s and boy’s packages are each preseason ranked first in a really aggressive Area,” Stewart mentioned. “We undoubtedly lack top, however we now have lots of pace and we now have plenty of boys who’re capable of shoot the 3-point shot, which goes to create lots of alternatives for us.”

Working with Stewart this yr can be returning assistant coaches Erick Egan and Mike Criswell.

The Bulldogs graduated three seniors: Tiegen Marmon, Carson Massey and Gavin Scott, who had an eye fixed damage final yr and was out for a lot of the season.

Bowman’s beginning 5 will encompass 6 ‘1 junior ahead/guard Bishop Duffield, junior Bohden Duffield, junior guard Aidan Thompson, junior guard Roman Fossum, and 6’ 2 junior ahead Kirklan Meschke. There are not any new members on this group this yr.

The Duffield brothers are key scorers for the Bulldogs and are anticipated to be leaders once more this yr. Bohden averaged 20.2 factors per sport, 5.1 rebounds per sport and led the group with 69 steals and 68 assists in 2021-2022. He additionally put up 77 profitable 3-point pictures. His twin brother Bishop Duffield averaged 16.4 factors per sport, 5.2 rebounds per sport, 62 steals, 42 assists and 40 three pointers. Each had been All-Area choices final season. Bohden was additionally an All-State choose.

The Bulldogs had a 20-7 document final yr and beat Hazen 73-49 for the Area title, their first Area Championship since 2009.

This yr Bowman will depend on their pace to push the tempo of the sport.

“It’s going to be one in every of our fundamental priorities to not let groups play us within the half court docket,” Stewart mentioned. “…My philosophy goes to be lots totally different than what these boys are accustomed to and we’re nonetheless in a sense out course of. It’s going to be a very good problem for us.”

Stewart says that though the boys are confronted with strain and excessive expectations, they’ve been centered and aggressive at apply. All through the adjustment course of they plan to take care of the same taking part in type that’s quick paced, and defensively aggressive.

“We’ve got a very good group of boys which are being coachable and that’s been very rewarding,” Stewart mentioned. “I attempt to let these boys be themselves and make it as enjoyable as we are able to. We’ve got a really proficient group. We need to make groups must have a sport plan for what Bowman County Boys Basketball goes to deliver to them.”