New Rockford, N.D. (NewsDakota.com)—-The Four Winds-Minnewaukan (FWM) Lady Indians pressure defense held Nelson County (NC) to 35 points and helped create 22 turnovers in the District 7 championship game. The Chargers led 7-4 early in the first quarter but FWM ended the quarter on a 13-4 run and held a 17-11 lead. The lead was increased to 10 at halftime at 27-17, and 15 after three quarters at 42-27. FWM built a 21 point lead early in the fourth quarter at 49-28 before finishing the victory at 52-35.
Ezura Rainbow (5’10 junior) had a game high 20 points and Mahpiya Jackson added 15 points for the Lady Indians. Myona Dauphinais added 9 points. NC was paced by Kylee Baumgarn with 15 points and Marit Ellingson added 8 points for the Chargers.
FWM improved to 13-7 on the season and NC dropped to 13-9. Both FWM and NC will host first round games in the upcoming Region 4 tournament.
Region 4 Qualifier:
New Rockford-Sheyenne (NRS) Rockets 63 Harvey-Wells County (HWC) Hornets 53
Dani Bjerke and Kelsie Belquist scored 14 points each to pace the Rockets to a 63-53 win over the number 2 seed Hornets. Belquist, a freshman, sparked the Rockets on both ends of the court, scoring 8 of her 14 points in the first half and created several Hornet turnovers. Chloe Heinz added 8 points and Kayahna Hopfauf added 7 points for NRS. The Hornets were paced by Kalyn Keller and Zoe McKinven with 14 and 13 points. Maggie Raue added 9 points for the Hornets. HWC season ends at 7-12 overall and NRS improved to 10-9. The Rockets will travel to Langdon in the opening round of the Region 4 tournament.
Region 4 Qualifier:
Benson County (BC) Wildcats 79 Warwick Lady Warriors 34
Ashlyn Williams scored a team high 18 points (6-3 pointers), Quinn Neppl (12 points), McKenna Tollerud (10 points), Desidy Schwanke (9 points), and Kearyn Nelson (9 points) paced the balanced offensive attack for the Wildcats 79-34 victory. Kalista Jackson paced Warwick with 11 points and Sarah Anderson finished with 9 points. Warwick finished the season at 2-13 and Benson County will advance to the Region 4 tournament with a 15-6 record.
All District 7 Team
Benson County—Desidy Schwanke and Quinn Neppl
Four Winds-Minnewaukan—Mahpiya Jackson, Myona Dauphinais, and Ezura Rainbow
Harvey-Wells County—Zoe McKinven, Kalyn Keller, and Maggie Raue
Nelson County—–Kylee Baumgarn
New Rockford-Sheyenne—Dani Bjerke
Senior Athlete of the Year—-Zoe McKinven—-Harvey-Wells County
Coach of the Year—–Sean Gourd—Four Winds-Minnewaukan
A.D. of the Year—–Elliott Belquist–New Rockford-Sheyenne