Oakes, ND (NewsDakota.com) – The Oakes Tornadoes boys’ basketball team jumped out to a big first quarter lead and did not look back as they were victorious against the Napoleon-Gackle-Streeter Imperials Tuesday night 85-47.  The score at the end of the first quarter was 26-7 and never got closer than that.

Senior forward Steele Hansen had 14 points in the first quarter on his way to a game high 21 in the first half, and fellow senior Garret Meehl took over the scoring in the second quarter, adding 11 points of his own to end the half with 17.  The Tornadoes went into halftime leading 48-20.

The Tornadoes employed a 1-3-1 trapping press to start the game and put pressure on the Imperials, who struggled to take care of the basketball.  Oakes took advantage of the turnovers to push the pace and get easy layups, leading to the early deficit.  The press was used sporadically throughout the game, even as the Imperials started to navigate and break through the pressure.

Junior Jaxcen Glatt led the Imperials with 12 points on the night, all from three-pointers.  He was supported by senior Kayden Sperle and sophomore Trenton Erbele, who both scored 10.  Hansen led all scorers with 27 points in the game, while Meehl finished with 23.  Senior center Ashton Biesterfeld added 18 points of his own, including 10 in the fourth quarter.

The Tornadoes move to 4-1 on the season, while the Imperials fall to 4-7.  The Tornadoes next play on Friday evening, with action set to start around 7:15 pm.  That game will be live on KDDR 1220 am.  The Tornado girls play Thursday at Sargent County, with game time also set for 7:15 and broadcast on KDDR.