Working overtime: Thunder wins over Cards, 51-49

On Thursday, Dec. 29, the Carrington Cardinals traveled to Pingree to take on the Medina-Pingree/Buchanan Thunder in what was an intense basketball game from start to finish.

Early on, it was clear that both teams would be playing with intensity as they fought to take down one of their rivals.

For the Thunder, Thursday's game was their first of the 2022-23 season. The Cardinals, though, had already played three games before they arrived at Pingree, and had won all of them.

Both teams were strong on defense, forcing their opponents to work hard just to get shots up. Carrington in particular struggled to generate offense in the paint, relegating much of their offense to the margins as they relied on their 3-point shooting.

But unfortunately for the Thunder, the Cardinals were shooting well from beyond the arc, particularly in clutch moments.

M-P/B had held onto a lead for much of the first half, and near the end of the second quarter stretched their lead to nearly double digits. However, that's when a string of accurate shooting got Carrington right back into the game and within two points as they entered the locker room at halftime.

Carrington then took a small lead in the third quarter, and for a while were able to hold it. However, M-P/B was up to the task, and managed to come back and retake a lead in the fourth quarter.

At the end of the half the Thunder were eventually able to build another near-double-digit lead, but once again, Carrington came up clutch when they needed to.

The Cards managed to string together a number of 3-pointers in the final minute or two of regulation to get them within two points, followed by a transition layup to tie the game.

Immediately afterwards, Cardinals' junior Grady Shipman stole the ball as the Thunder attempted to inbound it, but missed the would-be go-ahead basket. Neither team was able to score in the remainder of regulation, sending both teams to a four-minute overtime period.

The Thunder controlled most of that overtime period, and managed to - yet again - build a lead. However, as if it was scripted, an impressive catch-and-shoot 3-pointer from Carrington hit its mark, once again tightening the margin with just seconds remaining.

Carrington, though, were still forced to foul Thunder players and hope they missed their free-throws. Some were missed, but the Thunder managed just enough to hold off the resurgent Cardinals, bringing the final score to 49-51 in M-P/B's favor.

The loss was the first of the Cardinals' season, and it was the first time they were held to under 50 points.

Both the Thunder and Cardinals played their next games at the Stutsman County Tournament in Jamestown from Jan. 5 through Jan. 7. The results of that tournament will be covered in the next edition of the Independent.

Nondistrict Boys' Basketball

M-P-B 51, Carrington 49 OT

at Pingree

Cgtn. 13 7 11 13 5 49

M-P-B 15 7 14 8 7 51

Carrington: Josh Bickett 15, Grady Shipman 12, Jack Erickson 9, Hudson Schmitz 7, Jack Paulson 6. Totals: 17 FG, 7-7 FT, 18 fouls. Three-pointers: Bickett 3, Shipman 2, Paulson 2, Schmitz. Fouled out: Erickson.

M-P-B: Josh Moser 21, Rylen Wick 17, Chase Ova 6, Sawyer Wanzek 3, Gage Magstadt 2, Adam McClellan 1, Mark Thomas 1. Totals: 19 FG, 8-18 FT, 13 fouls. Three-pointers: Wick 3, Moser, Ova.