Jamestown, ND (NewsDakota.com) – The District 5 Boys’ Basketball Tournament kicked off Friday night at the Jamestown Civic Center. The tournament will continue on Saturday and conclude on Monday. Game times each day are scheduled for 4:30, 6, and 7:30 pm. The entire tournament can be heard on Q101 KQDJ, and the Oakes Tornado games will also be simulcast on KDDR 1220 am/95.9 fm.
The Edgeley-Kulm-Montpelier Rebels received a first round bye as the #1 seed in the district. They will play the LaMoure-Litchville-Marion Loboes in the second game Saturday night.
(#4) LaMoure-Litchville-Marion Loboes 56 – (#5) Carrington Cardinals 33
The Loboes and Cardinals got out to a slow start in the opening game of the tournament, with Carrington holding a 3-1 lead over halfway through the first quarter. The quarter ended with the Loboes holding a 7-5 lead, but they were able to consistently grow their lead, taking a 20-11 lead into halftime and 34-20 lead into the fourth quarter.
Senior Colton Ness carried the scoring load for the Loboes, leading all scorers with 17 points. Ness’ 15 points after the third quarter were more than any other two players combined from either team at the time. Junior Corban Potts had a good all-around game with nine points, five rebounds, three steals, and four assists, including a few to set up easy baskets for Ness.
The Cardinals were never able to find an offensive rhythm, having only sophomore Hudson Topp (11 points) and juniors Lucas Hendrickson (eight points) and Jacob Seaburg (seven points) score more than three. Even while playing solid defense, the Cardinals were never able to get any offense going to stay with the Loboes.
The Loboes move on to the semi-finals to face the top-seeded EKM Rebels in the second game Saturday. The Cardinals receive a bye Saturday and move on to a Region qualifying game to open the action on Monday at 4:30 pm.
(#2) Ellendale Cardinals 59 – (#7) Griggs-Midkota Titans 39
The Cardinals jumped out to and early lead in the second game of action and cruised to an easy 20-point victory. Ellendale led 19-7 at the end of the first quarter, led by junior Scott Wagner and sophomore Riley Thorpe.
Thorpe dominated from the outside, hitting three three-pointers on his way to 10 first quarter points, and Wagner dominated from the inside, scoring seven in the first.
After not scoring in the second, Thorpe hit four more three-pointers in the second half, finishing with 23 points. Wagner led all scorers with 24 and had 17 rebounds, 11 of which were offensive.
The Cardinals led by 21 at halftime and maintained a lead around that total for the rest of the game.
The Titans were led by senior Tanner Haugen with 14 points, including two three-pointers. Junior Logan Topp had 10 points, and senior Trae Kaelberer added five points and seven rebounds.
The Cardinals move on to the semi-finals in the main event Saturday night against the Oakes Tornadoes. The Titans move to an elimination game on Saturday in the first game of action against the Barnes County North Bison.
(#3) Oakes Tornadoes 56 – (#6) Barnes County North Bison 38
Much like the Loboes, the Tornadoes got out to a slow start, struggling to take a 12-7 lead into the second quarter. The Tornadoes picked it up from there, however, extending to a 33-16 lead at halftime before cruising through the second half.
Senior Steele Hansen led the way for the Tornadoes, scoring 22 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Hansen got help from his fellow seniors, as Ashton Biesterfeld had 14 points, eight rebounds, and two blocked shots, and Garret Meehl added 10 points, six rebounds, and four assists.
The Tornadoes out-rebounded the Bison 38-21, but they were sloppy in committing 18 turnovers compared to just nine for the Bison. The Bison could not take advantage of their opportunities, however, shooting just over 30% while the Tornadoes shot over 50% from the field.
The Bison were led by senior Tucker Brown with 12 points and six steals. Fellow senior Max Fehr (seven points) played well in his minutes, but he played only 18 minutes as he sat with foul trouble and fouled out with over 10 minutes left in the game. Senior Peter Bryn added nine for the Bison.
The Tornadoes move on to the semi-finals in the last game Saturday against the Ellendale Cardinals. The Bison will open Saturday in an elimination game against the Griggs-Midkota Titans.