JAMESTOWN, N.D.  (NewsDakota.com)  For the first time in eight years, the Cardinals will make their way back into the State Class B Boys Basketball Tournament next week at the Bismarck Events Center.  The Cardinals beat the Rebels of Edgeley/Kulm/Montpelier in the Region III championship game on Friday 64-49.  Carrington has won 19 straight games and improved to 22-2, EKM ends their season at 19-6.

The Rebels would close the gap to four points with time winding down in the fourth quarter, but a dunk by Seth Nelson and a big three pointer by Jayden Shipman helped the Cardinals pull away. The Cardinals had three players in double figures, led by Senior Garrett Bickett with 23 points, Sophomore Seth Nelson added 12 points and nine rebounds and Kolton Vetter had 10 points. Jayden Shipman made the only three pointer all night for Carrington, the Cards attemped just three the entire game, usually attempting around 15 per game.  Leading the way for EKM was Senior Lane Hanson with 17 points and 13 rebounds.  Hanson averaged a double-double for the three day tourney, 22 points and 16 rebounds per game. Isaac Huber added 15 points and Phillip Hagen added 10.

Ellendale 56  Lamoure/Litchville/Marion 41 (third place)

Alex Klever had 18 points but the Loboes would still fall short to the Ellendale Cardinals in the first game Friday.  Austin Molan had a game high 17 points for Ellendale, Lucas Hofer added 15 and Cole Goehring added 11.  Ellendale ends their season at 18-7, LLM also ends their season at 16-9.

Tourney awards:

Region 3 Coach of the Year – Kevin Strobel, EKM

Region 3 Senior Athlete of the Year – Garrett Bickett, Carrington

The Carrington Cardinals will advance to the State Class B Boys Basketball Tourney at the Bismarck Events Center running Thursday, Friday and Saturday, March 15th-17th, 2018. Tournament seeding will be announced on statewide television around 8pm on Saturday, March 10th between championship games at the Super A State Basketball Tourney in Fargo.