Jamestown, ND (NewsDakota.com) – The Region 3 Boys’ Basketball Tournament wrapped up on Thursday night with the championship game and one team heading to the State Tournament in Minot. Catch up on the first and second days of action.
Edgeley-Kulm-Montpelier Rebels 46 – Linton-HMB Lions 28
Whether it was nerves or good defense, both teams started extremely slow in the Region Championship game. The teams struggled to score early, ending the first quarter tied at six.
The Rebels found a groove in the second, scoring the first seven points of the quarter. EKM scored 18 points in the quarter while the Lions stayed cold, finishing the half shooting just 20% from the field with only two players scoring: seniors Lucas Schumacher and Carter Renz.
Only three Lions scored in the game, as sophomore Trace King made a three-pointer in the third quarter. The Lions continued to struggle through the final buzzer, finishing only 11-47 from the field (23.4%), including 4-30 from three-point land (13.3%). Renz led the Lions with 16 points, and Schumacher finished with nine.
The Rebels shot an even 50% from the field in the first half (11-22) before cooling off in the second half. By the time that stretch came, however, the Rebels had already built a cushion, leading by 11 at halftime and 15 entering the fourth quarter.
The Rebels had a balanced scoring attack, with senior Chayse Entzi the only player in double-digits with 11 points, and five other Rebels scoring between five and nine points.
Fellow senior Alex Huber struggled from the field, but he made up for it on defense and the boards, finishing with a team-high 10 rebounds to go with his seven points. The Rebels out-rebounded the Lions 41-27, and every Rebel who played more than 10 seconds had at least four rebounds.
The Lions were never able to make a serious attempt at a comeback, as every run was countered with another stretch for the Rebels. The lack of shot-making from the Lions also never allowed them to make an extended run.
The Rebels win their second straight Region 3 Championship. Last season, the Class B Boys’ State Tournament was cancelled due to COVID-19 after the Rebels won the Region, so they missed out on the State experience. The Rebels will look to take care of unfinished business beginning Thursday, March 18th in Minot.
After the game, Huber was named the Region 3 Senior Athlete of the Year, and head coach Dan Carr of the Lions was named Region 3 Coach of the Year. State seeding and pairings will be determined and announced on Friday.