Bobcat basketball players earn honors

The Hot Springs County High School Bobcats basketball team had a season for the ages this year. The team played with poise, skill and determination all year, and along the way, the Cats defeated some really superb basketball teams – leaving many in the state (outside Hot Springs County, of course) feeling more than a little surprised.

The team finished the season with a record of 25-4, went an undefeated 6-0 in the 2A Northwest quad, finished third in the 2A Regional tournament – and then, there was that sixth State Championship – and first since 2004. Oh, sure, there is always a quest for an undefeated season, however, barring that, there really isn’t anything more that could have, rationally, been asked of the Cats this year.

Consequently, it probably comes as no surprise that several of the Bobcats have recently been singled out for some individual distinction.

Five Bobcats have been awarded 2A Northwest Conference honors: Cody Bomengen, Del Dukes, Zak Hastie, Brody Potter, and Ellis Webber. Cody Bomengen was named Player of the Year for the 2A Northwest, and Coach Shane Corpening was named 2A Northwest Coach of the Year.

The same five players were awarded honors in the 2A West conference, with Cody Bomengen being named Player of the Year in the 2A West, as well.

Senior Del Dukes ended the season shooting 26% from three-point range, 55% from the field, and 50% from the free-throw line. He had 223 points, 97 rebounds, and 52 assists.

For the year, junior Zak Hastie shot 27% from outside the arc, 45% from the field, and 59% from the free-throw line. He finished with 226 points, 138 rebounds, and 78 assists.

Three Bobcats were named to the All-State Team – all three for their first time.

Junior Cody Bomengen finished the year shooting 29% from beyond the arc, 58% from the field, and 53% from the free-throw line. He had 476 points, 215 rebounds, and 63 assists, leading the team in each of those categories.

On the year, senior Brody Potter shot 34% from three-point range, a team leading 61% from the field, and 66% from the free-throw line. He finished the year with 332 points, 132 rebounds, and 42 assists.

Junior Ellis Webber finished the year shooting a team leading 36% from outside the arc, 35% from the field, and a team leading 67% from the free-throw line. Ellis had 130 points, 62 rebounds, and 59 assists.

When ruminating over the Bobcats season, one simply cannot find sufficient superlatives to describe how magic it all was. If you got to see the Cats play, consider yourself both lucky and honored. If you didn’t get to see the action, you really missed out on some highly skilled and entertaining basketball. If basketball is not really your thing – it would have been - if you had taken advantage of the opportunity to view this truly phenomenal season.