New Rockford, N.D. (NewsDakota.com)—–The opening day of the District 7 girls basketball tournament had top seeded Four Winds-Minnewaukan and second seeded Harvey-Wells County getting byes into the semifinals on Saturday. The host team and number 4 seed New Rockford-Sheyenne led at halftime over the number 5 seed Benson County 22-16 but couldn’t hang on as the Wildcats defeated the Rockets 39-34. Nelson County racked up 84 points in a decisive victory over the Warwick Lady Warriors.
Benson County (BC) Wildcats 39 New Rockford-Sheyenne (NRS) Rockets 34
Benson County outscored the Rockets 23-12 in the second half and erased an 8 point deficit (22-14) late in the first half to advance to the semifinals against top seeded Four Winds-Minnewaukan. Quinn Neppl paced the Wildcats with a team high 13 points (11 in the first half). Desidy Schwanke ignited the second half comeback scoring 8 of her 10 points in the third quarter and all 10 points in the second half. Ashlyn Williams connected on a pair of three pointers in the final quarter and finished with 9 points.
NRS was paced by Dani Bjerke with a game high 15 points and Kennedy Demester added 7 points for the Rockets. NRs overall record evens up at 9-9 overall and will play at 5:30 on Monday night in a Region 4 qualifying game against the loser of the second semifinal, either Harvey-WC or Nelson County. Benson County improved to 14-5 overall and will take on top seeded Four Winds-Minnewaukan (11-7) Saturday.
Nelson County (NC) Chargers 84 Warwick Warriors 59
Kylee Baumgarn had the hot hand for the Chargers as the 5’8 senior drilled 9 three pointers and finished with a game high 32 points pacing the 84-59 victory. Baumgarn scored 20 of her 32 points in the first half (14 points in the 2nd quarter including 4-threes). Baumgarn connected on a pair of three’s in the third and fourth quarters. Nora Johnson (5’8 junior) added 20 points for the Chargers and Hollie Emory (5’11 junior) added 14 points as the Chargers improved to 12-8 overall and will play second seeded Harvey-WC (7-10) in the semifinal on Saturday. Coverage of New Rockford-Sheyenne, Nelson County, and Harvey-Wells County will be on Thunder Country 98.3 FM and www.newsdakota.com