The Hampton-Dumont-CAL girls and boys basketball teams will begin a three-game week with a North Central Conference doubleheader test at Humboldt on Tuesday, which will air on 104.9 KLMJ. The girls will look for their first win over the Wildcats since 2022 and the boys will look for their third straight win in the series.
The #15 (3A) H-D-CAL girls (5-0, 2-0 NCC) are off to their best start since 2021 (5-1). The Bulldogs enter off their largest margin of victory with a 30 point win 58-28 over Webster City in conference play on Friday. The Bulldogs’ pressure has kept opponents on edge, as they forced 31 Lynx turnovers including 21 steals in the win. Three Bulldogs are averaging double figure scoring with Brooklyn Valley at 12 points, Lily Hambly at 11 and Jordan Valley averaging 10 points per game.
Head Coach Miranda Stafford on the Bulldogs balanced production and handling of road environments.
“The difference between this team this year, which is the same kids pretty much as the kids last year, is this year we don’t care who gets what, we just want to win,” says Stafford. “To show the kids the growth once again, for the time they put in and the mental work that they’ve done. To be able to handle this environment and not fall apart when we missed free throws, when we airballed threes, when we’re missing layup, things didn’t go our way. We didn’t pout, we weren’t upset. That is the difference between us getting the win here this year versus us losing here last year.”
The #14 (3A) Humboldt girls (2-2, 1-0 NCC) enters off a 50-47 non-conference loss to Spirit Lake on Tuesday, December 10. Ava Fischer and Morgan Mann are the Wildcats top scoring and rebounding duo with 16 points and six rebounds per game.
The H-D-CAL boys (1-2, 0-1 NCC) lost a lopsided conference opener 50-17 to Webster City on Friday. The Bulldogs have been challenged by turnovers averaging 23 per game and cold shooting stretches to begin the year. Brady Harr has provided a triple threat for the Bulldogs leading the team in points (12), rebounds (9.7) and assists (2.7) per game.
Head Coach Brian Niesen on a tough Wildcats team and the crucial role of Harr for the Bulldogs.
“They’ll be similar to Webster City and how they’re going to guard us, we’re going to have to handle pressure. They have Eliot Carlson back, who’s one of the best scorers in our league, they’ll be tough,” says Niesen. “He’s leading us in assists right now. We just need a lot out of Harr, he’s our guy there and he’s our guy who started every game last year. He’s the guy who’s been there and done that, played in big games, and has played a very crucial role for us on and off the floor.”
The Humboldt boys (0-2) will play their conference opener against the Bulldogs following a 68-49 loss to Spirit Lake on Tuesday, December 10. Eliot Carlson has had the hot hand shooting with 21.5 points per game.
Coverage on 104.9 KLMJ will begin at 6:05 p.m. followed by the opening tip at 6:15 p.m. in Humboldt.
