LAS VEGAS – Battling injuries after Challenge Night 7, with Team Captain March Eguchi (Poa, Brail) questionable after re-aggravating a pre-existing groin injury, Team Pendleton Whisky was able to secure victory in a tight battle to start of Challenge Night 8 of PBR’s Monster Energy Team Challenge, presented by U.S. Border Patrol, at South Point Arena in Las Vegas. Matching up with undefeated Team Boot Barn inside the Let ‘Er Buck Saloon, Team Pendleton Whisky struck first when Eguchi conquered Red Bones (Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger/Clay Struve/Kathy Boone/Joe Beaver) for 87.25 points, the only qualified ride of the first half of Game 22. Junio Patrik Souza (Sonora, Brazil) sealed the deal for Pendleton after he was thrust into action when Amadeu Campos Silva (Atair, Brazil) was stepped on by his first-half mount. Souza bested Thunder on Hooves (Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger/Clay Struve/Heald Pro Bulls) for 74 points in his team’s third out of the second half, giving Pendleton an insurmountable lead. Team Boot Barn wouldn’t go quietly into the night, as captain Daylon Swearingen (Piffard, New York) covered on the last out of the game, preventing the shutout with an 86-point ride on Bullfrog (Stockyards/Chad Boen/Melton Bull Company). Team Pendleton Whisky athlete Lucas Divino (Nova Crixas Goias, Brazil) was also seen grimacing after his two outs in Game 22. The first game of the night also saw the high-marked bull of the night, as Drifter (Nunes Livestock/L&B Bucking Bulls) dispatched Braden Richardson (Jasper, Texas) in 2.25 seconds, earning a 44.25-point bull score. With the win, Team Pendleton Whisky improves to 2-0 on the PBR Monster Energy Team Challenge season, while Team Boot Barn falls to 1-1.
“Well as you guys know, we aren’t a hundred-percent healthy,” Team Pendleton Whisky captain Marco Eguchi said. “But we just have to put a lot of heart into each ride and get it done.”
“I twisted my hand again in my first ride tonight,” Lucas Divino said. “With this being back to back we don’t have time to rest it. So I’ve just got to find a way to get it done. I feel bad for letting down my friends, my team, but thank God we found a way to win.”
Team Ariat Squeaks by Team Cat for Second-Straight Victory
Team Ariat (2-0): 160.75 points
Team Cat (0-2): 79.25 points
LAS VEGAS – In another Saturday night game separated by only one ride, Team Ariat got hot late and improved to a perfect 2-0 in Division B of the PBR’s new team tournament, beating Team Cat 160.75-79.25 inside the South Point Arena. After both squads were skunked in the first half, Team Ariat was led by Ky Hamilton (Mackay, Queensland, Australia) who covered his second-half opponent Twinkle Toes (Kruger Bucking Bulls) for 85.25 points, giving Team Ariat the lead. That ride answered Dakota Louis (Browning, Montana) who had struck for Team Cat on Charge (Kruger Bucking Bulls) for 79.25 points. To close out the game, 2016 World Champion and Team Ariat Captain Cooper Davis (Jasper, Texas) poured it on as he showed down with Maximum Risk (Kruger Bucking Bulls) on the team’s final out. Matching Risk leap for leap on the dirt, Davis sealed the win with a 79.25-point ride, giving Team Ariat a two bull to one lead. Team Ariat improves to 2-0 in the young PBR Monster Energy Team Challenge season, while Team Cat drops to 0-2.
“I just had a really good one to ride tonight,” said Australian youngster Ky Hamilton. “I was able to make it count for my team.”
“Just got to keep your hand in the rope,” said Team Ariat captain Cooper Davis. “We’ve got the guys to do it, so we’ve just got to keep it in there.”
Team South Point Remains Standing in Shootout with Team Lucas Oil to End Challenge Night 8
Team South Point: 259.25
Team Lucas Oil: 171.25
LAS VEGAS – The final game of Challenge Night 8 of PBR’s new team tournament ended in a blow-for-blow scoring eruption with Team South Point beating Team Lucas Oil by one bull. Once again, the night was started by fan favorites Cody Nance (Paris, Tennessee) and Ryan Dirteater (Hulbert, Oklahoma) dueling in the first half. Nance, the Team South Point captain, reached the 8 aboard Crazy Doc (Paradigm Bull Company) for 87.75 points, while Dirteater bested Gangster of Love (Julio Moreno/Dallas Schott) to give Team Lucas Oil 85 points. The offense didn’t stop there as Shane Proctor (Grand Coulee, Washington) rode Team South Point to a substantial lead with the high-marked ride of the night, an 88-point trip aboard Space Monkey (Diamond Bar Cattle). But Team Lucas Oil had the young gun Dalton Kasel (Muleshoe, Texas) on deck, and he conquered Heavy D (Paradigm Bull Company) for 86.25-points. However, Kasel suffered a strained groin that kept him out of the second-half. Ty Wallace (Collbran, Colorado) took care of business aboard Fist City (Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger/Clay Struve/Ken Barnhard) for Team South Point, adding 83.5 points to the lead in the last qualified ride of the night. As the dust settled, Team South Point earned its first win, 259.25-171.25, giving it a 1-1 record, while early favorite Team Lucas Oil drops to 0-2 in the PBR Monster Energy Team Challenge, presented by U.S. Border Patrol.
“These [Team South Point] guys come from all over the place,” said captain Cody Nance. “Like y’all saw, we may have slacked a little bit, but we’re not going to slack again.”
“We’ve got a young guy waiting in the wings if we need him,” said veteran Shance Proctor about Team South Point. “But outside of him we’re just a team of veterans, and we’re just here to win.”
SCORE RECAPS – CHALLENGE DAYS 1-7
CHALLENGE DAY 1: New PBR Team Tournament Launches with a Blowout, Shutout and Dramatic Seesaw Battle at South Point Arena in Las Vegas
Team Cooper Tires (1-0) Defeats Team Can-Am (0-1) │ 336.25-87
Team Las Vegas (1-0) Defeats Team YETI (0-1) │ 88.25-0
Team Union Home Mortgage (1-0) Defeats Team Wrangler (0-1) │ 337-257.25
CHALLENGE DAY 2: Powerhouse Shutouts, Gritty Rides and High Adrenaline Action Headline Challenge Day 2
Team Can-Am (1-1) Defeats Team Wrangler (0-2) │ 347.25-0
Team Las Vegas (2-0) Defeats Team Union Home Mortgage (1-1) │ 257-85.25
Team Cooper Tires (2-0) Defeats Team YETI (0-2) │ 332-0
CHALLENGE DAY 3: Team Cooper Tires Builds Sizeable Lead with Third Consecutive Win to Conclude First Weekend of New PBR Team Challenge
Team Las Vegas (3-0) Defeats Team Wrangler (0-3) │ 175.75-0
Team YETI (1-2) Defeats Team Can-Am (1-2) │ 173-86.5
Team Cooper Tires (3-0) Defeats Team Union Home Mortgage (1-2) │ 175.75-88.5
CHALLENGE DAY 4: Unstoppable Team Cooper Tires and Resurgent Team Wrangler Headline Explosive Action from Challenge Day 4 of New PBR Team Challenge [pbr.com]
Team Can-Am (2-2) Defeats Team Union Home Mortgage (1-3) │ 173.25-0
Team Wrangler (1-3) Defeats Team YETI (1-3) │ 259.5-254.25
Team Cooper Tires (4-0) Defeats Team Las Vegas (3-1) │ 259.25-84.5
CHALLENGE DAY 5: Dramatic Finishes on Challenge Day 5 of PBR Team Challenge Architect Must-Win Game for Final Division A Championship Berth
Team Cooper Tires (5-0) Defeats Team Wrangler (1-4) │ 173-170.25
Team Las Vegas (4-1) Defeats Team Can-Am (2-3) │ 175.25-89.25
Team Union Home Mortgage (2-3) Defeats Team Team YETI (1-4) │ 88-87.5
CHALLENGE DAY 6: Mauricio Moreira Converts Under Pressure in Game’s Final Out to Propel Team Can-Am to PBR Team Challenge Playoffs in Sioux Falls
Team Wrangler (2-4-0) Defeats Team Yeti (1-5-0) | 176.25-88.25
Team Cooper Tires (6-0-0) Defeats Team Las Vegas (4-2-0) | 259-0
Team Can-Am (3-3-0) Defeats Team Union Home Mortgage (2-4-0) | 173.5-172.75
CHALLENGE DAY 7: Pendleton Whisky Earns Walk-Off Win, Swearingen Proves Clutch, Davis Beats Dirteater as Division B Opens Action
Team Pendleton Whisky (1-0) Defeats Team South Point (0-1) | 166.5-158
Team Boot Barn (1-0) Defeats Team Cat (0-1) | 169-83.75
Team Ariat (1-0) Defeats Team Lucas Oil (0-1) | 86.5-83
INJURY UPDATES
QUESTIONABLE: Team Lucas Oil’s Dalton Kasel was sidelined following his first bull of Challenge Day 8 after straining his groin. Scottie Knapp was activated in his absence. Kasel is questionable for Challenge Day 9.
QUESTIONABLE: Team Pendleton Whisky’s Amadeu Campos Silva was sidelined a sprained right MCL sustained when he dismounted his first bull on Saturday. He did not attempt his second bull. He is questionable for Challenge Day 9.
COMPETING: Team Ariat’s Ky Hamilton is competing with a right wrist (riding hand) sprain.
COMPETING: Team Lucas Oil’s Matt Triplett competed after not getting on his second bull on Challenge Night 7 due to a left leg contusion.
COMPETING: Team Pendleton Whisky captain Marco Eguchi competed after not getting on his second bull on Challenge Night 7 due to a sore left thigh.
YETI “BUILT FOR THE WILD” BULL OF THE WEEKEND STANDINGS
Here are the Top bull 5 scores recorded on Challenge Day 7 of the 2020 PBR Monster Energy Team Challenge, presented by U.S. Border Patrol:
- Hurricane Party (Stockyards/Pritchett Ranch/Melton Bull Co) – 44.50 points (Challenge Day 7 –Daylon Swearingen, 5 seconds)
- Soy El Fuego (Stockyards/Scott Winston/Melton Bull Company) – 44.25 points (Challenge Day 7 – Ky Hamilton, 3.43 seconds)
Drifter (Nunes Livestock/L&B Bucking Bulls) – 44.25 points (Challenge Day 8 – Braden Richardson, 2.25 seconds)
- Spotted Demon (Julio Moreno/Dallas Schott) – 44 points (Challenge Day 7 – Daylon Swearingen, 6.74 seconds)
Marquis Metal Works Bill The Butcher (Paradigm Bull Company/Marquis Metal Works – 44 points (Challenge Day 7 – Marco Eguchi, 2.72 seconds)
DIVISION B STANDINGS
Here are the standings for Division B after Challenge Day 7 of the 2020 PBR Monster Energy Team Challenge, presented by U.S. Border Patrol:
- Team Pendleton Whisky, 2-0-0-327.75 points (+1)
- Team Ariat, 2-0-0-247.25 points (+1)
- Team South Point, 1-1-0-417.25 points (+1)
- Team Boot Barn, 1-1-0-255 points (-3)
- Team Lucas Oil, 0-2-0-254.25 points (+1)
- Team Cat, 0-2-0-163 points (-1)
BUILT FORD TOUGH MVP STANDINGS
Here are the standings for the Built Ford Tough MVP race for the 2020 PBR Monster Energy Team Challenge, presented by U.S. Border Patrol after Challenge Day 6:
- Jose Vitor Leme, 9-for-12, 779.5 points
- Roscoe Jarboe, 5-for-12, 434.75 points
- Mauricio Moreira, 5-for-12, 431.25 points
- Derek Kolbaba, 4-for-12, 347.5 points
- Colten Jesse, 4-for-12, 347 points
- Stetson Wright, 3-for-12, 261.75 points
- Mason Taylor, 3-for-9, 260 points
- Stetson Lawrence, 3-for-9, 260 points
- Chase Dougherty, 3-for-10, 260 points
- Luciano de Castro, 3-for-11, 258 points
- Garrett Smith, 3-for-10, 255 points
- Sage Kimzey, 3-for-10, 254.5 points
- Keyshawn Whitehorse, 3-for-5, 241.25 points
- Rafael dos Santos, 2-for-5, 175.75 points
- Ezekiel Mitchell, 2-for-9, 175.25 points
- Fabiano Vieira, 2-for-10, 174.5 points
- Cody Nance, 2-for-4, 173.75
CHALLENGE DAY 9 MATCHUPS
Here are the game matchups for Challenge Day 9 on Sunday, June 21, for the third day of games of Division B of the 2020 PBR Monster Energy Team Challenge, presented by U.S. Border Patrol:
Team Lucas Oil vs. Team Cat
Team South Point vs. Team Boot Barn
Team Ariat vs. Team Pendleton Whisky
Challenge Day 8 for the 2020 PBR Monster Energy Team Challenge, presented by U.S. Border Patrol, gets underway Sunday, June 21 at 12 p.m. ET. Action will be LIVE on CBS Sports Network and RidePass. CBS Sports will again broadcast the Game of the Week at 2 p.m. ET.