DCS Tigers seek respect in first state tourney trip

Steve Kodad/McCook Daily Gazette Kendal Glidden (43) of Dundy County-Stratton powers past Austin Forbes (14) of Hitchcock County in first-round action at the Cattle Trail Tournament in McCook Dec. 10. Glidden and his DCS teammates make their first trip to the Class C-2 state tournament in school history. [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

The Tigers are carrying a huge chip on their shoulders entering the state tournament. Call the DCS boys the "Rodney Dangerfield" of the C-2 state tourney field. Head coach Kris Freeland's team is seeded eighth in C-2, and the 16-7 Tigers aren't getting much respect in state tournament previews.

"They started the week excited, but now I think they are a little bit miffed because nobody is giving them a chance," Coach Freeland said of his team. "They've got a chip on their shoulders. I think they are ready to prove something."

DCS will face top-seed Axtell in opening-round C-2 action Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Lincoln Southeast High School gym. The Wildcats have just one loss in 23 starts -- a 49-46 setback to Class C-1 state tourney qualifier Minden (18-4) Dec. 29 at the Minden Holiday Tournament.

The Nebraska high school basketball "pundits" are saying that Axtell and Ravenna will meet Saturday in the Class C-2 state championship finals.

"From what our kids have read in the newspapers and seen on television, Axtell and Ravenna will play in the finals," Freeland said. (Thursday) is a formality for Axtell, this is a bump in the road. Our kids' attitudes have changed from euphoria (over qualifying for state) to 'This is ridiculous. We're here, give us a chance.'"

The DCS team has never experienced the state tournament atmosphere. This year marks the first time Dundy County-Stratton's boys have qualified for state since the Benkelman, Stratton and surrounding communities consolidated schools districts several years ago.

Long state dry spell

It's been ages since any teams from those respective school districts played in a boys state basketball tournament.

According to the Nebraska School Activities Association Web site's state basketball tournament history page, Benkelman has made seven trips to state -- the last coming in 1938. Benkelman was 0-7 in its state tournament history. Stratton High School qualified for state just once -- in 1929 -- with an 8-5 win over Garland and a 26-10 loss to Barneston.

Besides the usual pre-game jitters, Freeland thinks his team will be loose in Thursday's state tourney opener, because "no one is giving them a chance," he said.

DCS took an 11-3 record into the Republican Valley Activities Conference (RPAC) tournament semifinals against Wauneta-Palisade Jan. 26 in Wallace. The Tigers dropped a 57-47 decision to the Broncos. Dundy County-Stratton then lost three of its next five games, including a 74-65 setback at 21-3 Wauneta-Palisade in the regular-season finale Feb. 19.

Freeland's squad caught fire in the C2-11 Sub-District at McCook. DCS, seeded third in the sub-district, topped Perkins County 40-28 in the semifinals Feb. 23 and beat 15-6 and top-seed North Platte St. Pat's in the finals two night later.

Dundy County-Stratton advanced to the C2-6 District Final against Bayard March 1 in Ogallala. The Tigers knocked 19-4 Bayard out of the state tournament with a 57-44 decision, while punching their ticket to state.

Tall Tigers

The Tigers will present a formidable lineup for Axtell in Thursday's C-2 state tourney opener. The Tigers feature 6-7 senior Kendal Glidden and 6-5 freshman Joe Rettele along the front line. Seniors Willie Mathews and Grant Jones, plus junior Jordan Faimon are the other starters, with juniors Aaron Baney and Josh Anderson, plus freshman Tyler Freeland the first players off the bench.

The DCS coach labeled Axtell as a very athletic team that attacks the offensive glass, and rebounding may be a big key for success for the Tigers Thursday.

"We have to limit their shots and control the boards," Freeland said. "They don't worry about missing their first shot, because they are going to crash the boards."

Axtell beat Ravenna, 67-60, in the C2-5 District Final at Kearney March 1. Ravenna, 22-3, is seeded second in the C-2 state meet field.

Better now than then

Freeland shrugged off his team's 2-3 slump after the RPAC Tournament.

"The basketball season is a long season," he said. "You're going to have roller coasters. We definitely had a nice little run at the end (sub-districts and district final). I think our kids are focused and they want it, and they are going to do whatever it takes to win."

The DCS coach said his team has improved throughout the year, and he referred to several scores to show that improvement. The Tigers lost a 53-43 decision to Arapahoe in the Cattle Trail Tournament semifinals in McCook Dec. 11. DCS then turned around and beat the Warriors, 76-60, in a home contest Jan. 16. Freeland's team also lost to Perkins County, 82-63, in a home contest Dec. 19, before the Tigers topped the Plainsmen by 12 in the sub-district semifinals.

"We are a totally different team from the first of the year," Freeland said.

One other important note: of the six Nebraska teams Dundy County-Stratton lost to during the season (the seventh loss was a 42-38 decision vs. Holyoke, Colo. in February), only Hayes Center advanced to the state tournament.

State champ coach in '03

Freeland is in his second year coaching at DCS. He is no stranger to success at state. Freeland guided Lynch to the 2003 Class D-2 state championship.

The DCS-Axtell winner will face the Archbishop Bergan-Hartington Cedar Catholic winner in the C-2 semifinals Friday at 7 p.m. at Pershing Auditorium. The C-2 state championship game is scheduled Saturday at 9 p.m. at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.

The DCS coach said all the communities that feed the Dundy County school are excited for the trip to Lincoln. Freeland said a community pep rally was scheduled Wednesday midday, with the team departing for Lincoln following the rally -- shoulder chips and all.