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RPAC Rundown Featured Matchup Preview: Dundy County Stratton at Cambridge

  • Writer: Evan Jones
    Evan Jones
  • 17 hours ago
  • 4 min read
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On Friday evening, December 5th, Cambridge will host Dundy County Stratton. Tip-off is set for 6:00 P.M. CT for the girls and 7:30 P.M. CT for the boys.


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Let's evaluate the girls matchup first.


Dundy County Stratton


  • Record in 2024-2025: Fell in a District Final to eventual champion Dorchester, 46-44.

  • Head Coach: Matt Schaub, third season at DCS, 30-19 record, career record of 127-96.

  • Returning for the Tigers will be senior Clara Spargo, who averaged 11.7 points per game, 6.2 rebounds per game, 1.5 assists per game, 1.3 steals per game, 1.3 blocks per game, and earned RPAC West First Team and RPAC Rundown Second Team Honors; sophomore Abi Spargo, who averaged 13.2 PPG, 11.4 RPG, 1.7 APG, 3.8 SPG, 1.5 BPG, and earned RPAC West and RPAC Rundown First Team Honors; junior Kimberly Escobar, who averaged 9.2 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 1.7 APG, 3.7 SPG, and earned RPAC West and RPAC Rundown Honorable Mention Honors; junior Emily Schack who averaged 6.2 PPG, 5.7 RPG,1.2 APG, 1.2 SPG, and 1.1 BPG; senior Lexie Yrkoski, who averaged 1.2 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 2.9 APG, and 2.4 SPG; sophomore Ava Lutz who averaged 5.4 PPG, 4.7 RPG, and 1.2 SPG; and sophomore Bree Lutz who averaged 1.0 PPG and 1.0 RPG.

  • A lot of returning players for the Tigers, as you can see, this team may have the chance to make some noise this season.

  • In the D2-9 Subdistrict with Cambridge, Hitchcock County, Medicine Valley, and Wallace.


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Cambridge


  • Record in 2024-2025: 12-11

  • Record this season: 1-0. They opened the season with a 49-42 win over Hitchcock County on Thursday night.

  • Head Coach: Clay Shepard -- Spent the last five seasons as the boys coach at Cambridge

  • Returning this season will be senior Mallory Springer, who averaged 10.6 points per game, 11.9 rebounds per game, and earned RPAC East and RPAC Rundown Second Team Honors; junior Brooklyn Holtze, who averaged 7.2 PPG and 3.0 RPG; junior Elisabeth Kubik averaged 6.5 PPG and 6.5 RPG; junior Joslyn Holtze, who averaged 3.0 PPG, 3.4 RPG, senior Aspen Webb who averaged 5.6 PPG and 3.4 RPG, and senior Annabelle Taylor, who averaged 1.4 PPG and 2.7 RPG last season.

  • It will be intriguing to see how Coach Shepard coaches this team. His groups are known for playing fast and getting up shots.

  • In the D2-9 Subdistrict with DCS, Hitchcock County, Medicine Valley, and Wallace.


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Now for the boys' game.


Dundy County Stratton


  • Record in 2024-2025: 19-6, fell in the first round of Class D1 at State.

  • Have made it to state four straight seasons.

  • Head Coach: Kris Freeland, 18 years with DCS, 30th year overall, 446-243 overall record.

  • Returners: Senior, Ethan Latta averaged 15.1 points per game, 6.0 rebounds per game, 4.2 assists per game, and 2.8 steals per game for the Tigers. He was First Team RPAC West and Second Team RPAC Rundown. August Shaw, a senior and a Second Team RPAC West choice and a Third Team RPAC Rundown selection, scored 11.3 PPG and averaged 2.2 SPG. Senior Dante Horner was an Honorable Mention selection for both the conference and RPAC Rundown is a menace on the defensive side. He averaged 2.2 SPG, 5.5 PPG, and 3.3 APG, and is so tough on defense. Breck Horner, now a sophomore, was also an Honorable Mention Selection for both the conference and RPAC Rundown. He will step into a bigger role after averaging 7.4 PPG and 5.5 RPG.

  • I anticipate this team will be so good on defense. They just compete at a high level. The Tigers will look different without senior Lane Bybee, as he transferred to St. Mary's. He was a big part of what they did, averaging 16.7 points per game and 8.3 rebounds per game as a junior. He was First Team RPAC West and RPAC Rundown.

  • The Tigers are in C2, Region 4.



Cambridge


  • Record in 2024-2025: 11-12

  • Record this season: 1-0. Got a nice win to start the season over Hitchcock County, 75-59.

  • Head Coach: TJ Vacura, first season, Cambridge Alum, graduated in 2009.

  • Returning for Cambridge: Brady Ahlemeyer, a senior guard, averaged 14.4 points per game, 2.4 assists per game, and 2.2 steals per game; he was Second Team RPAC East and Third Team RPAC Rundown. Senior Hodge Raburn was Second Team RPAC East and Honorable Mention RPAC Rundown. He averaged 12.6 PPG and 6.6 rebounds per game. Look for fellow seniors, Maverick Webb, 8.1 points per game, 3.4 APG, Krayton Ruggles, 10.9 PPG and 5.6 RPG, and Braydon Miller, 2.1 PPG and 4.4 RPG, to be leaders for Cambridge, too. Both Webb and Ruggles were Honorable Mention selections by the conference on the East side and for RPAC Rundown. Those three do a nice job hustling on the floor. Braxton Mitchell, a sophomore, could be a major contributor, too, as he grows as a player.

  • This team made 171 threes last season and shot 28%. Vacura says they will look for more ways to score beyond the perimeter threat.

  • In the D1-11 sub with Arapahoe, Bertrand, Southern Valley, and Southwest.









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