HWC takes 3rd at CNDC girls' tourney

The HWC girls basketball team picked up their first two wins of the year on their way to a third place finish at the Central North Dakota Conference Tournament in Harvey from December 1-3.

The Hornets opened up with an exciting one with a two-point victory over New Rockford-Sheyenne, before losing a lopsided game to the Rugby Panthers in the semifinals.

HWC rebounded and held off a late second half rally to defeat the Minot Sophomores in overtime, 55-54, to claim third place.

The Hornets' record sits at 2-2 on the season with three of the games decided by two points or less.

HWC 52, NR-S 50

HWC started the game on the right track, with Rachel Neumiller scoring the first four points, giving the Hornets an early 4-1 lead. Some untimely HWC turnovers resulted in four quick layups by Kelsie Belquist, as the Rockets turned a 6-6 tie into a 14-6 lead. Larissa Arnold's field goal late in the first drew HWC back to within six points after one quarter.

The Hornet offense came to life in the second, as they committed less turnovers and scored more points. Emma Dockter, Neumiller and Brooklyn Dockter knocked down three-pointers as HWC jumped out to a 21-17 lead. A three pointer from Kaiya O'Connor and a three with three seconds remaining in the half by Ava Peterson helped the Rockets regain the lead at 25-24 at halftime.

HWC started the third with three quick field goals, but NR-S matched that output with three-pointers from Belquist and O'Connor. The Hornets finished the quarter on an 8-2 advantage, ending the quarter on a steal and layup from Emma Dockter for a 38-33 lead after three.

Larissa Arnold scored five quick points to start the fourth, as HWC took a seven-point lead at 43-36. Two quick field goals from Peterson pulled the Rockets to within three. Neumiller drained a three for a six-point HWC advantage, but O'Connor made her fifth and sixth three-pointers of the night, moving the Rockets back into the lead at 47-46.

Neumiller's third three- pointer gave the lead back to HWC, but a field goal from Lora Wobbema tied the game at 49 for the Rockets. Neumiller connected on a basket and free throw for a 52-49 HWC lead.

The final 39 seconds were frantic, as NR-S missed on two free throws, but then their defense forced the Hornets into a half court violation, giving the ball back to the Rockets. Peterson made one of two free throws for NR-S, but an offensive board gave them another possession. A blocked shot by HWC put an end to the game, with the Hornets holding on for the 52-50 victory.

Neumiller showed up big time for the Hornets, as the freshman poured in a game-high 27 points which included seven two-point field goals, three three pointers and a 4-of-5 effort from the charity stripe. Arnold scored five big points in the fourth to give her nine for the game for HWC.

The Rockets were led by O'Connor's six three-pointers and 18 points. Belquist scored 17 and Peterson added 12 for NR-S.

Rugby 67, HWC 35

The #1-seeded Panthers wasted little time in proving their seed, as their defensive pressure forced the Hornets into eight turnovers in the first five minutes, and their offense scored 25 points in the opening quarter as they cruised to a 67-35 win in the semi-finals of the CNDC Tournament on Friday, December 2 in Harvey.

Six Panthers scored in the opening quarter, with four players notching at least four points each. Joey Wolf scored seven in the first, as Rugby scored the final 13 points and turned a 12-4 advantage into a 25-4 lead after one.

Neumiller came to life in the second quarter for HWC, as the freshman scored nine points. Rugby knocked down four threes in the second, increasing their lead to 41-16 at the halftime break.

Mykell Heidlebaugh came out strong in the third quarter, as the senior scored 10 points. Wolf added another three and Rugby increased their lead to 58-23 after three.

Emma Dockter connected on a three-pointer in the fourth, and Neumiller added four more points as the Hornets outscored Rugby, 12-9, in the fourth but the Panthers claimed the 67-35 victory.

Heidlebaugh led all scorers on the night with 20 points, including 10 in the first half and 10 more in the third quarter. Also in double digits for Rugby was Wolf.

Neumiller led the Hornets on the night with 15 points, while Emma Dockter finished with nine.

HWC 55, Minot Sophomores 54 OT

The third place game of the CNDC tournament paired HWC and the Minot sophomores, and was played on Saturday, December 3, in Harvey. The fans earned bonus time, as the Hornets claimed a one-point victory in overtime.

Minot started strong with a three-ointer from Brenna Sidener, but that was all that the Hornets defense would allow. Four Hornet players scored and HWC led 9-3 after one.

The second quarter started as all HWC. Arnold had five straight points, as the Hornets scored the first 10 points and led, 19-3. The Magicians ended the first half on a tear, outscoring HWC, 10-5, to make the halftime score 24-13.

Ariana Rood and Kinley Bartsch knocked down two three-pointers each, and Journey Larson and Bostyn Edwards also made threes as Minot hit six perimeter shots and scored 20 points in the third quarter, pulling to within 34-33 after three. Emma Dockter nailed a three, and Braylee Keller added four more points for HWC in the third.

The fourth quarter was very competitive, with Rood hitting two more three- pointers and Bartsch adding another for Minot. The Hornets got another three from Emma Dockter and five points from Keller, as the game was knotted at 44 when the clock hit zero.

The overtime period was all about free-throws and three pointers. The Magicians hit their 13th three-pointer of the game as it pulled them to within 50-49. Free throws were the game for the Hornets, as Keller went to the line six times, making four and adding a field goal, helping her team hold to a 55-51 lead. Minot hit their 14th three of the game at the buzzer to make the final score 55-54.

Keller led the Hornets on the night with 21 points and 17 rebounds. The eighth grader made 9-of-12 free-throws in the second half to help seal the win for HWC.

Emma Dockter and Arnold were also in doubles with 15 and 13 points, while Neumiller grabbed 11 rebounds.

CNDC Girls' Basketball

Tournament, Harvey

First Round

HWC 52, NR-S 50

HWC 8 16 14 14 52

NR-S 14 11 8 17 50

HWC: Rachel Neumiller 27, Larissa Arnold 9, Emma Dockter 7, Breanna Heilman 4, Brooklyn Dockter 3, Rylee Jones 2.

NR-S: Kaiya O'Connor 18, Kelsie Belquist 17, Ava Peterson 12, Lora Wobbema 2, Madisen Myhre 1.

HWC Additional Stats

Rebounds: Neumiller 12, E. Dockter 10, Jones and Kamryn Sanders 4, L. Arnold, Heilman and Ella Monge 3, B. Dockter 2.

Assists: E. Dockter and Jones 2, B. Dockter, Neumiller and Sanders 1.

Steals: Neumiller 3, E. Dockter and Heilman 2, Monge 1.

Blocks: Neumiller 2.

Semifinals

Rugby 67, HWC 35

HWC 4 12 7 12 35

Rugby 25 16 17 9 67

HWC: Neumiller 15, E. Dockter 9, Mia Arnold 3, L. Arnold 2, Jones 2, Braylee Keller 2, Sanders 2.

Rugby: Mykell Heidlebaugh 20, Joey Wolf 13, Kendyl Hager 8, Savannah McCall 8, Joran Jundt 7, Janikka Miller 4, Madison Corum 3, Megan Buckmier 2, Lacie Deplazes 2.

HWC Additional Stats

Rebounds: Sanders 6, Keller 5, Monge 4, Neumiller 2, L. Arnold, B. Dockter and E. Dockter 1.

Assists: L. Arnold, M. Arnold, B. Dockter, E. Dockter, Keller and Monge 1.

Third Place

HWC 55, Minot Sophs 54

HWC 9 15 10 10 11 55

Minot 3 10 20 11 10 54

HWC: Keller 21, E. Dockter 15, L. Arnold 13, Neumiller 4, B. Dockter 2.

Minot: Kinley Bartsch 22, Ariana Rood 15, Journey Larson 7, Marleigh Iverson 4, Bostyn Edwards 3, Brenna Sidener 3.

HWC Additional Stats

Rebounds: Keller 17, Neumiller 11, E. Dockter and Monge 3, L. Arnold and Heilman 2, B. Dockter, Jones and Sanders 1.

Assists: Keller 4, Heilman 3, E. Dockter 2, L. Arnold 1.

Steals: E. Dockter 5, B. Dockter 3, L. Arnold 2, Heilman and Keller 1.

Blocks: Neumiller 2, L. Arnold and Keller 1.