Oakes, ND (NewsDakota.com) – The Oakes Tornadoes girls’ basketball team came into the week ranked ninth in the Class B polls, but, after a narrow overtime victory Monday over Napoleon-Gackle-Streeter, the Tornadoes tasted their first defeat of the season Thursday night, falling to the Carrington Cardinals 70-59.  The game was close throughout, with no team leading by double-digits at any point until the final score.

The Cardinals kept a small lead for most of the game, leading 18-17 after the first quarter and 31-28 at halftime.  Half-way through the third quarter, senior Sadie Hansen hit a long two-point shot for the Tornadoes to tie the game at 41, and the teams battled nearly to a draw heading into the fourth, with Carrington leading 53-52.

In the fourth quarter, junior center Sydnie Grager took over the game, scoring 14 in the final quarter alone.  With sophomore center Emma Muggli playing with four fouls, the Cardinals repeatedly went inside to Grager in the post, where she had her way with the Tornado defense.  Grager led all scorers with 27 points.

Senior Hannah Hagel scored 19, 12 of which came in the third quarter.  Fellow senior Lexus Page scored 14, including a three-pointer made in each quarter.  Sophomore Laikyn Roney led the Tornadoes with 20 points, 16 of which came in the second half.  Hansen finished with 17, although she did not score in the fourth quarter.  Junior Abby Cox added 10.

With the loss, the Tornadoes fall to 8-1 on the season.  The Cardinals improve to 9-3 and will next take on Rugby on Saturday.  The Tornadoes next action is also on Saturday, against Enderlin.  The next broadcast on KDDR 1220 am/95.9 fm will be Friday night, as the Tornado boys travel to Edgeley to take on the Edgeley-Kulm-Montpelier Rebels beginning around 7:15 pm.