This weekend sees the last of the pool matches in the PBR’s Monster Energy Team Challenge scheduled for decision inside the SouthPoint Arena.
Captain Cooper Davis and Aussie Ky Hamilton recorded all seven of Team Ariat’s qualified rides in the first week of Division B competition. This week they take an unchanged lineup into battle as they look to continue their charge towards the finals.
Check out the PBR Rundown for all the event times and coverage details.
PBR Monster Energy Team Challenge – Division B – Week 2
Saturday – Game 30 – Team Ariat v Team South Point
Team Ariat will look to maintain their momentum against Team South Point in their opening match of the weekend. Dalton Potter will replace Tyler Bingham in the starting side.
Led by General Manager Colby Yates, Team South Point riders for Game 30 includes Team Captain Cody Nance, Shane Proctor and Aaron Pass.
Hamilton leads the team off in Round 1 against Buckin’ For Cash from Paradigm Bull Company. This bull is yet to have a clean out and given up three re-rides in his three PBR trips. The bull stays out of the left delivery, so we will have to wait and see how he performs.
In the second round, Sniper awaits Hamilton. This bull has his first trip for Dakota Rodeo, Chad Berger and Clay Struve. He has been covered just the four times from 16 trips, and right-handers account for three of those scores. Sniper has previously turned back to the right from the right, but on this occasion, he will buck from the left chutes, so we will have to see how it plays out.
Here are the Saturday Daysheets.
Sunday – Game 31 – Team Ariat v Team Boot Barn
Team Ariat was able to secure a spot in Championship Weekend off the back of a Ky Hamilton double yesterday, but they will be hungry to extend their unbeaten record in this matchup. Tyler Bingham comes back in the starting side alongside Cooper Davis and Hamilton.
Their opponents, Team Boot Barn, put together a nice on Saturday to even up their record at two wins and two losses. Their captain is Daylon Swearingen with General manager J.B. Mauney starting Braden Richardson and Andrew Alvidrez.
Get Shorty from Dakota Rodeo, Chad Berger, Clay Struve and Heald Pro Bulls is Hamilton’s draw in the opening round. This bull gets covered by right-handed riders over 50% of the time, and with the 20-year-old in red hot form, you’d expect him to improve that record. Ride scores average in the high 80-point range, and the bull will turn back to the right.
Later in the matchup, Hamilton’s second opponent will be Suspicious Minds from Dakota Rodeo, Chad Berger, Clay Struve and Heald Pro Bulls. This bull has been hard to get by in the past twelve months, giving up just two scores from over a dozen outs. He will be tight, around to the left and can take a few slower jumps before warming to the task. Scores rarely exceed the mid-80’s.
Monday – Game 36 – Team Ariat v Team Pendleton Whisky
This will be the CBS Game of the Week on national TV and will be for the Division B title. Both of these teams are guaranteed a spot in at Championship Weekend in South Dakota in a fortnight, but both are also banged up, so we will have to see if there are any changes to the lineups early tomorrow morning.
Ky Hamilton took a nasty knock in his Round 1 matchup earlier today. He hyperextended his right elbow and has possibly fractured the left side of his jaw. Despite this, he remains hopeful of competing in Team Ariat’s final game of the weekend.
In Round 1 he goes up against Dust Bender from Dakota Rodeo, Chad Berger and Clay Struve. This bull has bucked off both riders he has faced in Team Challenge, and on both occasions, he was powerful and around to the left.
Hamilton faces Little Okie from 4B Bucking Bulls in his second-round match. This bull had his first PBR trip earlier this weekend, and Boudreaux Campbell rode him on Saturday for 85 points. The bull was around to the left and bucked at a very even tempo.
Here are the Daysheets for the final games of the week.
Stay tuned for the Weekend PBR Wrap-Up, which will be out on Monday morning following the conclusion on play.