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The Bulldogs outscored the Dutchmen 13-8 in the third quarter to take a 41-39 lead into the fourth quarter, but Melrose made 10 of 12 free throws and beat the Dogs with a 21-14 flurry in the final quarter.

Earlier, the Dogs had rebounded from a slow start - that saw Melrose take a 12-2 lead to begin the game - by outscoring the Dutchmen 10-4 over the rest of the first quarter. Melrose led 31-28 at the half.

Senior Adam Kampsen led the Dogs with 20 points, including 19 over the final three quarters and three three-pointers. He also had seven rebounds, four assists, and two blocked shots.

Senior Doug Mages scored 15 points, all in the first half, when he tallied nearly half of Paynesville's point total. Mages added seven boards and four steals.

Ninth grader Cory Nietfeld scored 10 points, including eight in the fourth quarter. He also had six rebounds.

The Bulldogs, after starting conference play by winning three of their first four games, lost their last six conference games, including four in which they led in the fourth quarter, finishing 3-7 in WCC play.

Ninth grader Cory Nietfeld (right) tries to block a Melrose shot last week. Melrose clinched the conference title with a 60-55 win.

This week, the Bulldogs will play their last regular season game against ACGC at the high school in Grove City on Friday, March 5.

Melrose--	16	15	8	21	- 60
Paynesville--	12	16	13	14	- 60

SCORING: (FG-FT/FTA-PTS)
Melrose 60 - Jimmy Gieske 5-6/8-18; Michael Rueckers 7-0/0-14; Peter Herkenhoff 6-0/0-13; Shawn Meyer 2-6/6-10; Nick Stangler 1-0/0-2; Reggie Welle 1-0/0-2; Mike Linneman 0-1/2-1; TOTALS: FG 22, FT 13/16, 3's 3.

Paynesville 55 - Adam Kampsen 6-5/6-20; Doug Mages 7-1/2-15; Cory Nietfeld 4-2/2-10; Jordan Haag 3-0/2-6; Adam Hemmesch 1-1/2-3; Adam Ingalsbe 0-1/2-1; TOTALS: FG 21, FT 10/16, 3's 3.

STATISTICS: 3-pointers - 3 Kampsen 3; Rebounds - 34 Kampsen 7; Mages 7; Haag 6; Nietfeld 6; Ingalsbe 5; Assists - 10 Kampsen 4; Steals - 6 Mages 4; Blocks - 4 Kampsen 2.

NL-S 80, Paynesville 72
A Bulldogs' comeback against NL-S on Thursday fell short, as the Dogs lost 80-72 in New London.

The Wildcats had a hot start, scoring 30 points in the opening quarter and taking a 15-point lead. But the Dogs cut that to ten at the half at 44-34. Trailing by 13 entering the fourth quarter, the Dogs made three treys and scored 25 points, but NL-S responded with 20 points and held on to win by eight.

The Bulldogs, now 6-14, had 16 offensive rebounds as a team, leading to nine put-back baskets.

Senior Doug Mages led the Dogs with 28 points, including 13 in the first half and 10 in the final quarter. He also had nine rebounds and made four steals. But the Dogs also got balanced scoring, with three other players in double digits: 13 from senior Adam Hemmesch; 12 from senior Adam Kampsen; and 10 from ninth grader Cory Nietfeld. Kampsen grabbed 11 boards, dished four assists, and took two charges. Hemmesch had five rebounds. And Nietfeld had six rebounds, six assists, and two steals.

Next week, the Bulldogs will play NL-S again in a rematch for their first district playoff game on Thursday, March 11. NL-S, seeded third, will host the game. The Dogs were seeded sixth in District 20.

Paynesville--	15	19	13	25	- 72
New London-Spicer--	30	14	16	20	- 80

SCORING: (FG-FT/FTA-PTS)
Paynesville 72 - Doug Mages 11-3/4-28; Adam Hemmesch 6-0/2-13; Adam Kampsen 5-0/3-12; Cory Nietfeld 3-4/5-10; Jordan Haag 2-0/0-5; Adam Ingalsbe 1-2/2-4; TOTALS: FG 28, FT 9/16, 3's 7.

STATISTICS: 3-pointers - 7 Mages 3; Kampsen 2; Haag 1; Hemmesch 1; Rebounds - 35 Kampsen 11; Mages 9; Nietfeld 6; Hemmesch 5; Assists - 17 Nietfeld 6; Kampsen 4; Haag 3; Steals - 9 Mages 4; Nietfeld 2; Blocks - 2 Hemmesch; Charges Taken - 2 Kampsen 2.

NL-S 80 - David Johnson 14-6/9-34; Todd Herman 6-4/5-18; Trever Soupir 6-1/4-14; Jamie Scheevel 2-2/2-6; Grant Elton 2-1/2-6; Josh Chapin 0-2/2-2; TOTALS: FG 30, FT 16/24, 3's 4.