BELLE FOURCHE - Lead-Deadwood completed a two-game, 2007-08 season sweep over Belle Fourche, recording a 60-54 victory in the Black Hills Conference boys basketball matchup on Tuesday.
A trio of Golddiggers connected for double figures. Kenny Miller canned a game-high 20 points, including 12 points from 3-point range. Tanner Adler chipped in 14 points and nine rebounds. Luc Reller added 12 points. Lead-Deadwood moved to 5-2 in the BHC and 7-4 overall.
Kyle Grubb led the Broncs, 3-4 in the BHC and 6-6 overall, with 17 points.
Lead-Deadwood coach Curt Shaw said he had several concerns about the game.
"Their height was a concern. We kept them off the boards. We hadn't played in a week." Lead-Deadwood had its game with Sturgis last Thursday postponed to Jan. 28 because of adverse weather. Belle Fourche's game with Spearfish was also postponed. The new scheduled date is Feb. 11.
The first quarter was nip and tuck with three ties.
The two teams were deadlocked at 11-11 at the quarter break.
A 13-3 scoring spurt by the 'Diggers opened up a 24-14 lead in the second period. A free throw by junior reserve Jake Startz pushed the difference to 11 points (29-18). The Broncs answered with two free throws by Sam Pehl and a basket by Tanner Willard, drawing to within 29-22 at halftime.
Miller sank a trio of three-point baskets in the third stanza, as the 'Diggers upped the lead to 47-28.
Belle Fourche narrowed the deficit to 60-54 after Grubb nailed a charity toss in the final minute. The Broncs misfired on a trio of 3-point shot attempts in the waning minute.
"I thought we did a good job defensively in the first half," Shaw said. "We got the lead to 13-17 points in the second half. Then, we weren't disciplined. That's been our problem all year.
"We have to play at a quick pace. You can play at a quick pace and still run your offense. We're struggling doing that."
Shaw said the win over the District 16A foe was a big one.
"This will really help for the (District) seeding," Shaw said. The 'Diggers and Broncs are battling for the second seed in the District tournament in February. The second seed hosts the third seed in the first round.
"We played hard, but we just struggled shooting," Belle Fourche coach Jim Martin said. "We missed too many easy shots."
"We made a great run at Lead-Deadwood."
The Broncs converted on only 26 percent of their field goal attempts.
"This is the meat of our schedule," Martin said about the tough stretch of games that includes the Broncs at Custer on Thursday and at St. Thomas More on Tuesday.
Lead-Deadwood journeys to BHC foe Hot Springs on Thursday.
