The Alliance Bulldog Boys and Girls basketball teams opened their seasons this past weekend at the Western Conference Tournament. There were eight teams competing in the tournament, including Alliance, Scottsbluff, Chadron, Sidney, Mitchell, Gering, Torrington, and Omaha Skutt Catholic.

The Lady Bulldogs started their season Thursday night, December 5th, against the Lady Cardinals. The Chadron Girls are ranked number 4 in Class C, and they showed why on Thursday. The Bulldogs struggled offensively and fell to Chadron 25-80. The next night, in the losers bracket, the girls would face off against the Sidney Red Raiders, battling to the end, but losing in overtime, 47-43. In their final game on Saturday at Scottsbluff High School, the Bulldogs faced off against Mitchell. The Lady bulldogs ended up short once again, 41-44. The girls showed great improvement over the weekend and look to bounce back at home on Friday against Gering. The Lady Bulldogs placed 8th in the tournament.

Under new head coach Roger Trennepohl, the Boys basketball team started their season in Chadron on Thursday after the girls game. Battling back from being down as much as 17 points, the boys kept in it, making it a 1 point game half way through the fourth quarter. The Chadron Cardinals pulled out the victory however, defeating the Bulldogs 60-51. Facing off against Sidney in the losers bracket, the game turned into an offensive shootout, with the Red Raiders prevailing 79-72. Looking for their first win of the season, the Bulldogs faced off against Torrington at Scottsbluff High School. The Bulldogs controlled the game from the start and picked up the win 52-46, improving their record to 1-2. The Dawgs placed 7th in the tournament.

Both the Boys and Girls teams will have their first home games of the season this Friday, the 13th against Gering. The girls game tips off at 5:30 and the boys will play at 7.