GRAND FORKS (NewsDakota)- If March is all about Madness, and the old phrase of “survive and advance” is good enough for college ball, it may as well be good enough for the NDHSAA playoffs as well.

Carrington, who had lost by 36 to Four Winds-Minnewaukan in February, led the Indians for a large stretch of the game before falling late 72-62 in a Class A Region 2 Quarterfinal at the Betty Inglestad Arena in Grand Forks on Monday night.

After the Indians took a 4-3 lead, Carrington got scorching hot from deep, hitting three deep ones in the first, four in the second, and three more in the third to maintain the lead that grew to as much as ten at 36-26 in the second quarter.

Four Winds-Minnewaukan rallied to close to 50-49, before senior Josh Bickett, who finished his career with 1,102 points, only six behind Cardinal legend Jim Kleinsasser, banked in a three at the buzzer to extend the lead to 53-49.

But the Indians won the final frame 23-9 to fend off the challenge and advance to a Tuesday semifinal vs Thompson, while Carrington finished at 12-10, a ten-game improvement from a season ago.

Carrington sees two seniors, Bickett and Grady Idland, depart the program upon graduation.

CHS            17            19            17            9                    62

FWM          14            15            20          23                   72

CARRINGTON (12-10): Taylen Mehring 21; Josh Bickett 17; Grady Idland 9; Maddox McIlonie 9; Alec Threadgold 4; Tate Wolsky 2

FOUR WINDS-MINNEWAUKAN (15-7): Marial Deng 17; Ronald McKay 16; Dorvan McKay 15; Jonte Delorme 8; Greyson Delorme 6; Tyler Black Jr 4; Richard Cavanugh 4; Sylvester Alberts 2

FULL GAME ARCHIVE: