Gackle, ND (NewsDakota.com) – The Oakes Tornadoes girls’ basketball team withstood a scare Monday night from the Napoleon-Gackle-Streeter Imperials to hold on for a 54-50 win in overtime.  The game was close throughout, with neither squad able to take a double-digit lead, and the teams went into the half tied at 22.

The Tornadoes turned the ball over 12 times in the first half, while the Imperials only had 5 turnovers.    Both teams had a sloppy third quarter, with the Imperials winning the turnover battle 6-8, and NGS went into the fourth quarter with a 33-28 lead.  Overall, the Tornadoes had 26 turnovers and the Imperials had 18.

The Tornadoes staged a comeback in the fourth, led by senior Sadie Hansen, who scored 10 points in the quarter.  With around five minutes left in the fourth quarter, Hansen hit back-to-back three-pointers to bring the Tornadoes back within two, then the teams battled to a tie at 43 to go into overtime.

In overtime, the Tornadoes took a quick lead and went ahead 52-45, ultimately holding on for the four-point victory.  Hansen led all scorers with 22 points, 12 of which came in the fourth quarter and overtime.  Sophomore Laikyn Roney scored the first five points of the overtime period before fouling out, finishing with 10 points on the game.  Brynn Dethlefsen, Emma Muggli, and Abby Cox all scored seven.

Freshman Teagan Erbele led the Imperials with 21 points, including six in overtime.  Sophomore Sophie Ketterling and junior Kylie Breidenback each had 10.

The Tornadoes move to 8-0 on the season.  In the newest polls released Monday, Oakes was ranked 9th in the state for Class B Girls.  Thursday, the Tornado girls expect another test against a strong Carrington Cardinals team at home, with coverage beginning around 7:15 pm on KDDR 1220 am The Tornado.  Friday, the Tornado boys travel to Edgeley to play the Edgeley-Kulm-Montpelier Rebels, with action again starting around 7:15 pm and coverage on KDDR.