The Little Big Horn College Rams took on the Western Montana College Bulldogs’ junior varsity squad in the Apsalooke Center this week as a Veterans Day crowd watched the Rams go down fighting.
The ladies’ matchup was a tense battle, with Adree Hugs leading the Rams with 16 points and six blocked shots. The Lady Rams, who trailed for most of the game, tied the game at 40 on a three-point basket by Hugs with 10 seconds left. But the Bulldogs won in overtime, 48-41.
Despite the loss, the Lady Rams outperformed expectations. Before the game, Coach Dominic Gaglia said, “What I know is, we played [Rocky Mountain College] and lost by 41, and they played Rocky twice and won. We’re the underdogs.”
Hired just before the season, Gaglia is looking to the future. “If we can stay healthy and eligible, we’ll get better,” he said, adding that the Lady Rams must work on play execution and conditioning, both of which take time. Both the Lady Rams and the men’s squad have played together for only one year.
Administrative Dean David Small said Gaglia “is a good coach. After he’s been here for a couple years, you’re gonna see a big difference.”
The 5-foot-11 Hugs was consistently in the right place at the right time, often seeming able to track rebounds unerringly after missed shots. She was the go-to player for baskets and blocked shots. Game announcer Albert Gros Ventre turned the call, “another two points for Hugs,” into a refrain.
Bulldogs coach Pat Wulfekuhle said his team was “very well conditioned, and we have solid posts.” The winners’ scoring spurts put the Rams behind. After an even first half, they took a 27-15 lead in the first four minutes after the break.
The Rams whittled away at the lead, and with six minutes, hit a three to go up by two before Hugs sent the game into overtime.
After the loss, Gaglia praised the team’s progress but said, “We weren’t creating easy shots.”
Wulfekuhle said he played his reserves a bit too much. This game was the first in a doubleheader, with the second game starting at 5 p.m. Tuesday. Asked what adjustments he planned to make for the second game, he said, “We’ll have to watch out for [Hugs].”
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