Rocket girls open with loss to Cards

A low-scoring first half for Carrington and NR-S turned one team's way in the third quarter, and that eight minutes was the deciding factor in opening night play for girls' basketball Tuesday evening, December 15.

The Cardinals held the Rockets to three points in that stanza, and scored 16 points to build an insurmountable lead and eventually defeat NR-S, 53-36, after the offensive floodgates opened up in the last period.

Each team struggled to get any offensive flow in the first quarter, and the Cards trailed for much of that time frame until Lexi Page's three-pointer from the corner late gave Carrington a 9-5 lead after

one.

Field goals by Sydnie Grager and Hannah Hagel, along with a Page free throw, represented the home team's only output in the second quarter. The Rockets stayed with the Cards with three baskets of their own, including Cassie Longnecker's trey.

The score read 14-13 in Carrington's favor going into the locker room, but Coach Andy Braaten's Cardinal squad came out with a renewed sense of purpose in the third quarter.

And that involved going inside to Grager, the 6'0" junior center, whose presence drew three shooting fouls (4-for-6 at the line) and four more points to enable Carrington to begin pulling away.

Grager matched her eight-point third quarter with another eight points in the final period, finishing with 18 points.

Meanwhile, the well went dry for NR-S in the third. Kelsie Belquist's basket was the only field goal for the Rockets, who trailed 30-16 after three.

Things greatly opened up on offense for each team in the final quarter. Hagel got into the act with six points in the fourth for the Cards, and reserve Olivia Threadgold got a chance to show her long range game with a three-pointer.

Dani Bjerke had nine of her NR-S team-high 11 points in the fourth, including a three and going a perfect 4-for-4 at the line. Longnecker, along with Mya Cudworth, also had threes.

The Rockets had a good evening from the foul line, shooting 8-for-10 for 80 %. Carrington was not nearly as efficient, with an 11-for-19 rate coming out to 57.9%.

Hagel had 12 points for the Cards, while Page tallied eight. Longnecker had a decent supporting performance for the Rockets, hitting from deep twice and finishing with nine points in defeat.

NR-S (0-1 overall) will take a two-week layoff that brings them to the other side of the Christmas break, where they host Central Cass on December 29 starting with B-squad play at noon.

Carrington (1-0) travels to Fort Totten tonight (December 21) for their final game before the holidays when they tangle with the Four Winds-Minnewaukan Lady Indians. Junior varsity begins play at 6 p.m.

Nondistrict Girls' Basketball Carrington 53, NR-S 36 at Carrington Tuesday, Dec. 15

NR-S 5 8 3 20 36

Cgtn 9 5 16 23 53

NR-S: Dani Bjerke 11, Cassie Longnecker 9, Chloe Heinz 4, Mya Cudworth 3, Kayahna Hopfauf 3, Kelsie Belquist 2, Kennedy Demester 2. Totals: 12 FG, 8-10 FT, 15 fouls. Three-pointers: Longnecker 2, Bjerke, Cudworth. Fouled out: Hopfauf.

Carrington: Sydnie Grager 18, Hannah Hagel 12, Lexus Page 8, Kenzie Edland 4, Emma Rindy 4, Haley Wolsky 4, Olivia Threadgold 3. Totals: 20 FG, 11-19 FT, 13 fouls. Three-pointers: Page, Threadgold.