The Durand Bulldogs's recent rough patch got a bit rougher on Thursday after their fourth straight loss. They fell to Dakota 54-48. Durand has not had much luck with Dakota recently, as the team's come up short the last eight times they've met.
Durand lost despite a true team effort on the offense, the best among them being Rhiannon Robertson, who scored eight points along with seven rebounds and five assists. Another player making a difference was Aurora Hilton, who scored six points along with ten rebounds.
Dakota's victory was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Hailey Kerchner, who scored 13 points along with four steals. As a matter of fact, that's the most points Kerchner has scored all season. Finley Banks was another key contributor, almost dropping a triple-double on ten points, nine rebounds, and nine steals.
Durand has not been sharp recently, as they've lost six of their last seven matchups, which put a noticeable dent in their 5-9 record this season. As for Dakota, they pushed their record up to 8-12 with that victory, which was their third straight on the road.
Both squads will have to hit the road in their upcoming games. Durand will take on Lena-Winslow at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday. Lena-Winslow presents a significant challenge as they come into the match much higher ranked than Durand in Illinois (Lena-Winslow is ranked 168th, while Durand is ranked 516th). As for Dakota, they will head out on the road to face off against Orangeville at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Orangeville will be looking to extend their current six-game winning streak.
