While Brock Fearday and Schmidt were struggling to score at one end, Dieterich’s top scorers – Lucas Westendorf, Landen Keck and Brock Niemerg – were experiencing the same difficulties at the other.

That trio entered the game averaging a combined 44 points. At halftime, none of the three had made a shot. Only Westendorf was in the scoring column, having made a pair of free throws.

For the Bulldogs, it was Griffith and Will Fearday that carried the scoring load in the first 16 minutes. For the Maroons, it was Jaxon Funneman and freshman reserve Bryce Bohnhoff, who kept the game close.

Funneman scored six points in the first four minutes of the game. His third basket gave Dieterich its final lead, 6-4.

Bohnhoff then came off the bench to score six in the second period, helping the Maroons stay within striking distance.

Griffith also scored six points in the opening eight minutes, including a drive to the basket in the waning seconds that gave the Bulldogs a 10-6 advantage.

Three times in the second quarter, the Maroons closed to within a single point, the final time being 18-17. But in the final 2½ minutes, Will Fearday knocked down a pair of three-pointers and Griffith again added a basket in the final seconds, sending the hosts to the locker room with a 26-19 lead at intermission.

“What Keenan provides us at point guard and his ability to score is huge,” Rincker noted. “And Will’s ability to shoot the three and the job he does defensively is vital. Those two threes he hit gave us some breathing room. To get that kind of production from those two guys makes a big difference, especially in big games like this.”

The big difference in the second half? Westendorf, Keck and Niemerg continued to struggle offensively, but Brock Fearday and Schmidt did not. That Bulldog duo combined to score 29 points in the final two periods, and as a result, the scoring margin continued to expand.

Two minutes into the second half, a basket by Funneman had the Maroons within 30-25. Brock Fearday then nailed a three, Schmidt hit a short jumper, Brock Fearday made a free throw and Schmidt made another basket to give St. Anthony a double-digit edge, 38-25.

And in the final minute, both Schmidt and Maddox Wiedman grabbed rebounds and scored. Wiedman’s came with just one second showing, sending the Bulldogs into the fourth period with a 48-30 cushion.

“During that third quarter, I didn’t even realize we were up by that much,” Rincker admitted. “We were getting defensive stops, executing better offensively and making some shots. The boys were just playing well at both ends of the floor.”

Bohnhoff hit a jumper to open the fourth quarter, but the Bulldogs than rattled off 10 straight points to make it a 26-point spread and eliminate any chance of a Dieterich rally.

Entering the game, Westendorf was averaging 20 points, while Keck and Niemerg were scoring at a 13 and 11-point clip respectively. They combined for 11 total points, with Westendorf finishing with six. That trio finished 3-for-23 shooting.

“Our defense played well,” Rincker said. “I thought we challenged on almost every shot. But a few of their shots were really close to going in. Some of them rattled in-and-out. They hit a few of those shots early and we may be having a different conversation.”

Rincker was especially pleased with the defense Brock Fearday played on Westendorf.

“Brock started out guarding him, but we were ready to rotate guys on Westendorf if we needed to,” the veteran coach explained. “But Brock did a fantastic job of keeping between Westendorf and the basket. I like how he’s learned to contest shots without fouling. The goal was to keep him under 15 points and we did that.”

Bohnhoff was the only Maroon to reach double figures, finishing with 10 points. As a team,, they shot a cool 36 percent, connecting on 16-of-44 attempts. They were 0-for-12 from three-point range and 8-for-12 at the foul line.

The Bulldogs had four players in double figures. Brock Fearday led the way the 19 points, while Griffith scored 15, Schmidt 14 and Will Fearday 12. Schmidt finished with a double-double, adding 11 rebounds.

“I was proud of the way Ryan continued to play hard, especially in the second half,” Rincker said. “His shot was falling, so he started driving to the basket and getting some offensive rebounds. That’s what good ballplayers do and he is very good player.”

St. Anthony made 23-of-52 total shots, a 44 percent clip. They were 4-of-17 from behind the arc and 18-of-21 from the line.

Dieterich is now 7-2 overall and 3-1 in the conference.

The Bulldogs improved to 8-2 on the season and remain unbeaten in the NTC at 4-0. They will play Monday at Olney.