CRASHING THE BOARDS - After tackling Valley Mills at home 53-40 on Tuesday of last week, the Dogs traveled to Frost on Friday and unexpectedly fell to the host Polar Bears in overtime by a score of 59-55. Rio Vista is currently pacing District 12-2A with an unbeaten 3-0 record. Each 2-1, Hamilton and Itasca are in hot pursuit with Italy and Frost chilling in the fourth and fifth spots with 1-2 district records. As of last Friday, Valley Mills was residing in sixth position at 0-3. The now 11-11 Bulldogs were led in a 53-40 home victory over Valley Mills last Tuesday by junior guards Mike Bushnell and Rogelio Ibarra with 12 and 10 points, respectively. On Friday in Frost, Bushnell nailed a double- double, knocking down 23 points and 11 rebounds. Though the Dogs entered the final stanza in Frost with a 12-point 39-27 lead, sophomore big man Colter Johnson was forced to exit the court with five fouls. The Polar Bears pounced and proceeded to outpace the Dogs 19-7 in the fourth to force overtime. During the extra period, the frostbitten Bulldogs were able to muster just nine points to Frost’s 13. Behind Bushnell’s double-double performance, sophomore Pierce Summers traced eight points, four boards and three blocks. Fellow sophomores Devin Eanes and Johnson each recorded four points, and Ibarra tagged three points, six boards and two steals. After hosting Itasca on Tuesday of this week, the Bulldogs are scheduled to welcome frontrunner Rio Vista to town this Friday. Next Tuesday, the Dogs will tip off the second round of district competition in Italy. Pictured, sophomore big man Colter Johnson (33) crashes the boards for a rebound. Staff photo/Lengefeld