OAKES, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The Oakes Tornadoes girls basketball team opened up the 2020-2021 season in a big way Tuesday night at home. Using a hounding defense, the Tornadoes downed Hankinson 63-31.

Sadie Hansen filled the stat sheet with a double-double of 29 points and 16 rebounds. She added three assists and five steals. As a team, Oakes had 22 steals and caused 27 turnovers. They scored nearly half their points, 31, off Pirate turnovers.

“Thought the girls played very well for the first game of the year. said head coach Brennen Hack after the game. “Played a very good defensive game and converted their turnovers into points.”

Laikyn Roney scored 14 points and added four steals. Abby Cox scored ten points and added four steals an three assists.

Kyla Mauch led Hankinson with nine points and had six rebounds. Ashlyn Foertsch had eight points and seven rebounds. Hannah Lingen chipped in eight points and Sadie Keller added five points, seven rebounds and a team high three assists.

Oakes, now 1-0 on the season, will travel to Ellendale to face the Cardinals on Friday for a girls and boys double header.