Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Rockets defeat Hornets in region qualifier, finish 4th in district tourney
NR-S center Kayahna Hopfauf got the opening tip against Benson County Friday, Feb. 12 at the girls District 7 Basketball Tournament. The Rockets secured a berth in the Region 4 Tournament with a win Monday over Harvey-Wells County. The boys district tournament begins here Friday, with NR-S securing the #2 seed and a first round contest with #7 Warwick.
Freshman Kelsie Belquist puts up a shot during the region qualifier game against Harvey-Wells County. Belquist was announced as player of the game.
Chloe Heinz dribbles the ball to the basket.
The New Rockford-Sheyenne Rockets pose with their fourth place trophy Monday. From left to right- back row: Chloe Heinz, Ava Peterson, Mya Cudworth, Kayahna Hopfauf, Madisen Myhre, Chloe Guthmiller, Lora Wobbema; front row: Dani Bjerke, Cassie Longnecker, Kelsie Belquist, Kennedy Demester, Kaiya O'Connor. Not pictured: Trysta Thumb, Katie Allmaras.
Benson County also got a berth in the regional tournament with a win over Warwick. Wildcat Quinn Neppl puts up a shot while Warrior Jayla Alberts attempts the block.
Four Winds-Minnewaukan is the champion of District 7 with a win over Nelson County. Here, junior Mallory Yankton dribbles the ball, defended by Paytan Lippert.
Dani Bjerke made the All District Team and All Tournament Team.
The 2021 District 7 Girls Basketball Tournament was held at New Rockford-Sheyenne High School on February 12, 13 and 15. The Rockets were seeded fifth in the district.
On Friday, Feb. 12 the Rockets took on the Benson County Wildcats. The Wildcats defeated the Rockets 39-34.
Benson County started the game off strong with a three pointer and two field goals from junior Quinn Neppl. Dani Bjerke put up a three-pointer and one field goal. The Rockets were down by two after the first quarter.
The Rockets came back in the second quarter hungry for a win. Bjerke put up two three-pointers and a field goal along with Kennedy Demester who brought in one three-pointer. The Rockets were now ahead of the Wildcats by six.
Benson County was not ready to give up. Desidy Schwanke came back in the third quarter to put up one three-pointer, two field goals and a free throw. The Wildcats and Rockets were now tied at 26.
Chloe Heinz and Kayahna Hopfauf were both fouled and went to the line. Both put in one free throw each. Cassie Longnecker was also fouled on and went to the line to put in two free throws. But it just wasn't enough. With Ashlynn Williams two three-pointers and McKenna Tofsrud's three-pointer, the Wildcats came ahead of the Rockets and won 39-34.
Bjerke led the Rockets with 15 points. Demester wasn't far behind with seven points. For the Wildcats, Neppl held the most points with 13. Also in double digits was Schwanke with ten.
The Wildcats moved on to play the top seeded Four Winds-Minnewaukan on Saturday, Feb. 13. With the loss to the Wildcats, the Rockets were to play Monday, Feb. 15 against Harvey Wells County.
The Warwick Warriors took on the Nelson County Chargers in the first round on Friday, Feb. 12. The Chargers defeated the Warriors 84-59.
Top scorers for the Warriors were Trina Hunt with 19, Kalista Jackson with 16 and Sunnie Belgarde with 12. Kylee Baumgarn led the Chargers with 32 points with 27 points just from three-pointers. Also in double digits for the Chargers were Nora Johnson with 20 points and Hollie Emory with 14 points.
The Chargers would then take on the Harvey Wells County Hornets in the Semifinals on Saturday, Feb. 13. With the loss to the Chargers, the Warwick Warriors would then take on Benson County in the Region Qualifier on Monday, Feb. 15.
The Four Winds-Minnewaukan Indians defeated the Benson County Wildcats 54-35 in the Semifinals on Saturday, Feb. 13.
Ezura Rainbow led the Indians with 22 total points. Also in double digits for the Indians were Myona Dauphinais with 16 and Mahpiya Jackson with 12. For Benson County, Neppl was the top scorer with 15 points.
Four Winds-Minnewaukan moved to the first and second bracket to play the Nelson County Chargers. The Wildcats moved to play Warwick in the Region Qualifier on Monday, Feb. 15.
In the Semifinals match up between the Chargers and the Hornets, the Chargers defeated the Hornets 46-42.
Emory held the most points for the Chargers with 14. Also in double digits for Nelson County was Baumgarn with 11. Zoe McKinven led the Hornets with 19 total points.
With this victory, the Chargers would move on to the Championship round to play the Four Winds-Minnewaukan Indians. Harvey Wells County would then move to the fourth place bracket to play the New Rockford-Sheyenne Rockets.
On Monday, Feb. 15 the Wildcats defeated the Warriors 79-34. The Wildcats received third place in the District Tourney and will head to Dunseith on Monday, Feb. 22 to take on the Dragons in the first round of the Region 4 Tournament.
Top scorers for the Wildcats were Williams with 18 points, Neppl with 12 points and McKenna Tollerud with ten. Jackson led the Warriors with 11 total points.
The second matchup on Monday was the hometown New Rockford-Sheyenne Rockets against the Harvey Wells County Hornets. The Rockets defeated the Hornets 63-53.
The Hornets came out of the gate strong with Kalyn Keller putting up a three-pointer, a field goal and a free throw. MacKenna Arnold also put up a three-pointer in the first quarter. Mya Cudworth put up a three-pointer in the first quarter to keep up with the Hornets. The Rockets were only down by two after the first quarter.
The Rockets then took the lead after the second quarter. They were now two points ahead of the Hornets. Cassie Longnecker put up two three-pointers. Kelsie Belquist put up two field goals and one free-throw. Not even McKinven's five points would help catch up to the Rockets.
In the third quarter, Bjerke came back with two three-pointers and four field goals. The Rockets now had a seven point lead on the Hornets.
Belquist was fouled on and was sent to the line to put in four free throws to bring home a win against the Hornets. Belquist was also announced as player of the game during this matchup. The Rockets received fourth place in the District Tourney and will head to Langdon on Monday to take on the Cardinals in the first round of the Region 4 Tournament.
Bjerke led the Rockets with 17 points. Also in double digits for the Rockets were Belquist with 14 and Longnecker with ten. For the Wildcats, Keller held the most points with 14.
During the Championship round of the District 7 Tournament, the Indians defeated the Chargers 52-35.
Baumgarn led the Chargers with 15 total points. For the Indians, Rainbow brought in 20 points and Jackson brought in 15 points.
The Indians received first place and will take on the St. John Woodchucks in their home gym on Monday. The Chargers brought home second place and will take on the Rolla Bulldogs at home on Monday.
District 7 Girls'
Basketball Tournament
First Round
Friday, February 12
Benson Co. 39, NR-S 34
NR-S 7 15 4 8 34
Benson Co. 9 7 10 13 39
NR-S: Dani Bjerke 15, Kennedy Demester 7, Kelsie Belquist 4, Mya Cudworth 4, Cassie Longnecker 2, Chloe Heinz 1, Kayahna Hopfauf 1. Totals: 13 FG, 4-10 FT, 15 fouls. Three pointers: Bjerke 3, Demester 1.
Benson County: Quinn Neppl 13, Desidy Schwanke 10, Ashlynn Williams 9, McKenna Tofsrud 3, McKenna Tollerud 2, Kearyn Nelsen 2. Totals: 14 FG, 5-9 FT, 10 fouls. Three pointers: Williams 3, Tofsrud 1, Schwanke 1, Neppl 1.
Region Qualifier
Monday, February 15
NR-S 63, H-WC 53
NR-S 13 17 21 12 63
H-WC 15 13 16 9 53
NR-S: Bjerke 17, Belquist 14, Longnecker 10, Heinz 8, Hopfauf 7, Demester 4, Cudworth 3. Totals: 21 FG, 16-22 FT, 21 fouls. Three pointers: Bjerke 2, Longnecker 2, Cudworth 1.
H-WC: Kalyn Keller 14, Autumn Sieg 9, Zoe McKinven 9, Maggie Raue 9, MacKenna Arnold 6, McKenna Vollmer 6. Totals: 19 FG, 10-22 FT, 17 fouls. Fouled out: Keller, McKinven. Three pointers: Arnold 2, Keller 2, McKinven 1.
First Round
Friday, February 12
Nelson Co. 84, Warwick 59
Nelson Co. 23 27 18 16 84
Warwick 18 7 16 18 59
Nelson Co.: Kylee Baumgarn 32, Nora Johnson 20, Hollie Emory 14, Marit Ellingson 5, Krista Lippert 5, Paytan Lippert 3, Kennedi McKay 3, Ryan Parsley 2. Totals: 30 FG, 8-10 FT, 7 fouls. Three pointers: Baumgarn 9, Johnson 4, P. Lippert 1, K. Lippert 1, McKay 1.
Warwick: Trina Hunt 19, Kalista Jackson 16, Sunnie Belgarde 12, Sarah Anderson 8, Jayla Alberts 2, Jada Clark 2. Totals: 22 FG, 8-9 FT, 13 fouls. Three pointers: Jackson 4, Belgarde 2, Hunt 1.
Semifinals
Saturday, February 13
FW-M 54, Benson Co. 35
FW-M 10 15 16 13 54
Benson Co. 11 10 2 12 35
FW-M: Ezura Rainbow 22, Myona Dauphinais 16, Mahpiya Jackson 12, Mallory Yankton 3, Makeisha Cavanaugh 1. Totals: 17 FG, 18-28 FT, 16 fouls. Fouled out: Cavanaugh. Three pointers: Dauphinais 1, Yankton 1.
Benson Co.: Neppl 15, Tofsrud 7, Kearyn Nelson 6, Williams 3, Maddock 2, Schwanke 2. Totals: 10 FG, 12-15 FT, 16 fouls. Three pointers: Neppl 2, Williams 1.
Semifinals
Saturday, February 13
Nelson Co. 46, H-WC 42
Nelson Co. 13 7 15 11 46
H-WC 14 12 10 6 42
Nelson Co.: Emory 14, Baumgarn 11, Johnson 8, Ellingson 8, P. Lippert 8, Parsley 2. Totals: 19 FG, 3-8 FT, 17 fouls. Fouled out: Emory. Three pointers: P. Lippert 1, Ellingson 1, Baumgarn 1.
H-WC: McKinven 19, Arnold 9, Raue 7, Keller 5, Vollmer 2. Totals: 14 FG, 9-24 FT, 10 fouls. Three pointers: McKinven 4, Arnold 1.
Region Qualifier
Monday, February 15
Benson Co. 79, Warwick 34
Benson Co. 21 20 28 10 79
Warwick 9 4 10 11 34
Benson Co.: Williams 18, Neppl 12, Tollerud 10, Nelson 9, Schwanke 9, Tofsrud 8, Gossen 6, Maddock 5. Totals: 25 FG, 16-21 FT, 8 fouls. Three pointers: Williams 6, Gossen 2, Tofsrud 2, Schwanke 1, Nelson 1, Maddock 1.
Warwick: Jackson 11, Anderson 9, Belgarde 7, Hunt 5, Alberts 2. Totals: 14 FG, 5-9 FT, 12 fouls. Three pointer: Belgarde 1.
Championship
Monday, February 15
FW-M 52, Nelson Co. 35
FW-M 17 10 15 10 52
Nelson Co. 11 6 10 8 35
FW-M: Rainbow 20, Jackson 15, Dauphinais 9, Yankton 6, Cavanaugh 2. Totals: 20 FG, 10-14 FT, 12 fouls. Three pointers: Dauphinais 1, Jackson 1.
Nelson Co.: Baumgarn 15, Ellingson 8, Emory 6, Johnson 2, Parsley 2, Schwind 2. Totals: 12 FG, 7-9 FT, 9 fouls. Three pointers: Baumgarn 3, Ellingson 1.
