The Bobcats dominated the Ansley-Litchfield Spartans in a head-to-head boys' basketball game on Thursday, Jan. 23. The Bobcats hosted the Spartans for their last game before the conference tournament.

South Loup kicked off the first half with Crew Witthuhn scoring the first points of the game. The team was unstoppable after gaining momentum from the early lead, ending the first quarter with a commanding 21-8 advantage.

In the second quarter, Conner Paulsen showed precision at the free-throw line, sinking two consecutive shots after being fouled on a drive to the basket. Carter Wood made his presence felt with a pair of contested jump shots in the paint, helping the team maintain their momentum. The Bobcats closed the half with a 3621 lead, thanks to their relentless defensive pressure and well-executed offensive plays.

The second half saw Dylan Pandorf dominate in the paint, scoring 10 of his 25 total points in the third quarter. By the third-quarter buzzer, the Bobcats extended their lead to 54-37.

In the final quarter, Wood intercepted a pass and turned it into a fast-break layup. The Bobcats maintained their focus and closed out the game with a decisive 65-55 victory.

Pandorf’s 25 points led the Bobcats, with Paulsen adding 19 and Witthuhn putting up an even dozen. Witthuhn, Paulsen, and Harper Johnson each had 5 rebounds to lead the defense, while Johnson also ended the game with 6 steals.

This week the Bobcats are competing in the MNAC tournament, where they are the number two seed behind Sandhills Valley. They met Arthur County in the first round on Tuesday in Arnold; however, the paper went to press prior to the conclusion of that game.