Girls open season with road win over Comets

The New Rockford-Sheyenne Rockets began the girls basketball season at Rolette on Tuesday, Dec. 3. The game was quite close all the way and the locals came away with a 40-31 win.

The Comets jumped out to a 6-0 lead, with 6:03 to go in the first. NR-S then went on a 10-0 run on a bucket by Kayahna Hopfauf with 0:20 left. A trey by the Comets' Shelby Johnson rounded out the quarter scoring and it was 10-9 rockets after one stanza.

Hannah Haley made one of two free throws to put the Rockets up 11-9 with 7:47 left until halftime. A basket by Shelby Johnson gave Rolette-Wolford a 16-14 lead with 3:10 left. A basket by Haley and another one by her with 0:13 left gave the Rockets an 18-16 lead at the intermission.

A trey by Eva Tastad gave the Comets a 21-18 lead with 5:50 to go in the third. Keiara Grant canned another trey for the Comets, putting them up 25-24 with 1:55 left. The rockets went on a 7-0 run on a basket by Chloe Heinz with 0:35 left and NR-S led 31-25 after three. NR-S went on a 9-4 run on a bucket by Dani Bjerke giving the locals a 40-29 lead with 3:18 to go in the game.

Grant scored the final basket of the game, and the locals came away with a hard fought win. The game featured eight lead changes and six ties. Haley paced the Rockets with a game high 15 points. Heinz added 13 points.

No Rolette-Wolford player reached double figures. Keiara Grant led the way with 8 points. Rolette-Wolford made 13 field goals, went 2-for-8 from the free throw line and committed 12 fouls. NR-S made 16 field goals, 6 of 15 free throws and committed 13 fouls. At times, it was a pretty physical game.

Mandy Fandrich is again the head coach for the Rockets this season. Craig Demester is the assistant. Jordan Brown is coaching the junior high teams.

The Rockets hope to be very competitive in District 7. Four Winds-Minnewaukan, Harvey-Wells County, Dakota Prairie and Benson County should all be good teams in District 7. In District 8, Langdon Area, Edmore-Munich, North Star and Rolla should also be competitive.

The Rockets are now 1-0 overall.

Region 4 Girls Basketball

NR-S vs. Rolette-Wolford

Tuesday, Dec. 3

at Rolette

NR-S 10 8 13 9 = 40

R-W 9 7 9 6 = 31

NR-S: Hannah Haley 15, Chloe Heinz 13, Dani Bjerke 4, Kayahna Hopfauf 4, Cassie Longnecker 2, Ashlynn Benson 2.

R-W: Keiara Grant 8, Brenna Boucher 6, Shelby Johnson 5, Eva Tastad 5, Elizabeth Smith 5, Neveah Peltier 2.

Next action for the Rockets is Tuesday, Dec. 10, when North Star comes to town. Three games will be played with the first one set for 4:30 p.m.

On Thursday, Dec. 12 Medina-Pingree-Buchanan comes to town for two junior high girls basketball games with the first one set for 4:30 p.m.

Junior Varsity

NR-S 14 6 8 14 = 42

R-W 7 4 5 4 = 20

NR-S: Chloe Guthmiller 10, Kennedy Demester 8, Kelsie Belquist 8, Kenna Munson 6, Chloe Heinz 4, Maddie Myhre 4, Mya Cudworth 2. Totals; 17 field goals, 8-15 free throws, committed 13 fouls.

R-W: Neveah Peltier 8, Eva Tastad 4, Brenna Boucher 4, Hailey Peltier 2, Hannah Strong 1, Elizabeth Smith 1. The Comets had 8 field goals, scored 4 of 10 free throws and committed 13 fouls.

Junior High

Monday, Dec. 2

Pingree

Seventh grade: NR-S 32, Medina-Pingree-Buchanan 22

Eighth Grade: NR-S 28, Medina-Pingree-Buchanan 10

Tuesday, Dec. 3

Rolette

One game: NR-S 35, R-W 14.