Buck helps lead Dover past Cimarron in season opener

New contributors combined forces with an established starter to give Dover its first season-opening win since 2022-23.

Casen Buck poured in 19 points Tuesday as the Longhorns knocked off visiting Cimarron 56-37.

Buck is the lone starter returning from last year’s state semifinal team.

The junior is now a three-year starter, but one thing missing on his resume was a win in a season opener.

He helped take care of that with five points early as Dover opened up a 13-0 lead on the Blazers, holding them scoreless until 1:41 was left in the opening quarter.

He also made 4 of 6 free throws in the fourth quarter as the Longhorns held off a mini-Cimarron rally.

After Dover got off to its quick start, the offense stalled before kicking back in during the second quarter.

Sophomore Kyler Williams scored six points in the second to spur a 15-6 Dover run.

Dover’s lead was as big as 23 points late in the third quarter before Cimarron made its biggest push in the fourth.

The Blazers picked up the pressure and were able to pull within 48-37 on Drake Butler’s 3-pointer with 2:31 to play.

Marco Sotelo ended the run with a pair of free throws 13 seconds later and the Blazers got no closer.

Williams made two free throws down the stretch and ended his night with 11 points.

Sophomore Daxx Compton made his debut in a Dover uniform and finished with 11 points and five assists.

He and Buck both went 5 of 8 from the foul line.

As a team, Dover was 20 of 35.

The Longhorns did dominate the boards by out-rebounding the Blazers 48-31. That included 17 offensive rebounds.

The biggest contributor was Dover’s lone senior, Brennan Fletcher.

The post player grabbed 17 rebounds to go with his seven points. Eight of those rebounds came on the offensive end.

Buck was second on the team with seven boards.