The varsity Hamilton Bulldogs were scheduled to enter the back stretch of District 12-2A competition this week, beginning with a game on Tuesday in Italy and a road matchup with Valley Mills this Friday at 7:30 p.m. The Bulldogs will return home next Tuesday for a senior night showdown with Frost at 7:30 p.m. Two seniors, including Jacob Eanes and Evan Norwood-Hall, will be recognized prior to tipoff. Following last week’s district action in which the Dogs earned a crucial 52-50 home victory over Itasca and fell in Hamilton to now 5-0 district leader Rio Vista by a score of 58-36, the District 12-2A landscape remains malleable. By hammering Itasca on Tuesday of last week, the Bulldogs took a half game lead over the Wampus Cats. Entering this week, the 3-2 Dogs and 3-2 Cats were residing in second and third positions, with 2-3 Italy and 2-3 Frost battling for the fourth chair. At 0-5, Valley Mills remains in the District 12 cellar. Despite carrying a comfortable 41-34 lead into the final stanza versus Itasca on Tuesday of last week, the Bulldogs were forced to hold on for a nail-biting 5250 victory. The Dogs were paced by sophomore big man Pierce Summers who slammed down a team-leading 15 points and seven rebounds. Junior guards Mike Bushnell and Jaxon Edwards each dialed in for a pair of successful three-point attempts and scored 10 points apiece, and fellow junior marksman Rogelio Ibarra knocked down eight points from the floor. Devin Eanes chalked five, and sophomore Colter Johnson posted four points and five rebounds. On Friday in Hamilton, the Bulldogs kept the usually high-flying Rio Vista Eagles grounded in the first quarter, outpacing their opponent 15-10 in the opening frame. Rio Vista proceeded to outflank the Dogs 48-21 during the subsequent three quarters to stamp a final 58-36 victory. Bushnell led the Dogs offensively with 12 points scored and was trailed by Edwards with 10 points and a team-leading five rebounds. Summers dished four assists, grabbed four boards and planted another four on the scoreboard. Ibarra also charted four points scored and was trailed by Jacob Eanes and Colter Johnson with two apiece. Pictured, sophomore Devin Eanes (12) looks to drop a dime while pushing the ball up the court, and junior point guard Rogelio Ibarra (1) facilitates the offense from the top of the key.