Season end — Girls fall to Buffalo and Glenrock in tournament

The Newcastle Dogie girls basketball team saw its season come to an end at the 3A East Regional Tournament in Buffalo last weekend, falling to the host Bison in the opening round before dropping a hard‑fought elimination game to Glenrock.

Newcastle entered the tournament as the No. 7 seed and opened play against second‑seeded Buffalo on Thursday morning. The Bison jumped out quickly and never trailed, using a strong first quarter to build early momentum on their way to a 67‑38 win.

Buffalo outscored the Dogies 19‑1 in the opening quarter, putting Newcastle in an early hole. The Dogies settled in during the middle quarters, however, nearly matching Buffalo point‑for‑point over the second and third periods before the Bison closed the game out in the fourth.

“We had the shots we wanted but struggled to score in the first half,” Coach Mike Pederson said. “Once we settled in, the team played some of its best basketball of the season.”

Sydney Pederson led Newcastle with 20 points, while Kaia Pederson added nine points and six rebounds. Kyndal Von Eye contributed four points as the Dogies battled against Buffalo’s defensive pressure.

The loss dropped Newcastle into a loser‑out matchup against Glenrock on Friday, and in their final game of the season, the Dogies turned in one of their most competitive performances of the year. Unfortunately, they came up just short in a 49‑46 loss to the Herders.

“We came up just short in a hard‑fought game, but our players left everything on the court,” Pederson said.

The teams traded runs throughout the contest, and Newcastle carried a 38‑31 advantage into the fourth quarter after outscoring Glenrock 19‑14 in the third. The Herders answered with a late push in the final period, edging the Dogies 18‑8 in the final frame to secure the victory.

“Losses like this sting, yet they also reveal our team’s heart, grit and determination,” Pederson remarked. “We’re proud of how our athletes battled to the final whistle and supported one another throughout.”

Sydney Pederson again led Newcastle with 13 points, while Josie Smith added 11 points and pulled down nine rebounds. Brystal Sweet contributed seven points and Kaia Pederson finished with six. Zadyn Allen controlled the glass with eight rebounds and added four assists, while Kyndal Von Eye chipped in five rebounds and four steals.

Though the season ended earlier than the Dogies had hoped, Pederson said his players showed determination and heart throughout the regional tournament. He added that while the results were not what the team hoped for, the experience and growth shown during the season will help lay a foundation moving forward.

“We want to thank our players, families and community for their incredible support,” Pederson said. “This team showed heart, growth and determination every step of the way. We’re proud of their effort and character, and we look forward to building on this season.”