Cards stifle NR-S girls, 50-20

One team was looking to maintain positive momentum into the postseason, while another was in need of a confidence booster against a quality opponent.

The NR-S Rockets, still licking their wounds after a 31-point loss to Langdon/Edmore/Munich two nights prior, entered their makeup game with rival Carrington with the intent of playing good basketball even if they failed to spring the upset.

On that count, the Rockets are still looking for answers, with not much time before the start of the Region 4 Tournament.

Carrington's stifling defensive pressure shut out NR-S in the second quarter and allowed just two in the fourth, and the Cardinals rolled the Rockets to the tune of a 50-20 rout Thursday night, February 2, in CHS' East Gym.

NR-S was unable to keep up with the Cards' steady barrage of three-pointers, of which the home team connected on 10 for the night. Madison Johnson (with a game-high 13 points) had three of her own, and Kacie Rexin and Olivia Threadgold had two treys each.

Sophomore forward Edyn Hoornaert additionally was a double-figure scorer for the Cards (14-3), tallying 10 points.

For the Rockets (12-5 following the loss), Kaiya O'Connor's two three-pointers represented the team scoring lead. Katie Allmaras and Ava Peterson also added four, and the Cardinal defense clamped down on leading Rocket scorer Kelsie Belquist by holding her to just four points as well.

In the junior varsity contest beforehand, it was much of the same for the younger Rockets, as they took a 53-18 loss to the Cardinals.

Trysta Thumb led NR-S with seven points in defeat, while Kenadie Pazdernik had a big effort for Carrington with 18 points, including two three-pointers. Also for the Cards, Sienna Topp had nine points and Harper Kollman seven.

Nondistrict Girls' Basketball

Carrington 50, NR-S 20

at Carrington

NR-S 7 0 11 2 20

Cgtn. 15 14 15 6 50

NR-S: Kaiya O'Connor 6, Katie Allmaras 4, Kelsie Belquist 4, Ava Peterson 4, Addysen Fandrich 2. Totals: 8 FG, 2-3 FT, 9 fouls. Three-pointers: O'Connor 2.

Carrington: Madison Johnson 13, Edyn Hoornaert 10, Kacie Rexin 8, Olivia Threadgold 6, Isabel Wendel 5, Kenadie Pazdernik 3, Brynn Smith 3, Emma Hone 2. Totals: 18 FG, 4-8 FT, 13 fouls. Three-pointers: Johnson 3, Rexin 2, Threadgold 2, Wendel, Pazdernik, Smith.

Carrington Additional Stats

Rebounds: Hone 9, Threadgold 6, Johnson and Haley Wolsky 5, Hoornaert 4, Rexin and Wendel 2, Kaydence VanRay 1.

Assists: Johnson 4, Hoornaert and Rexin 3, VanRay and Wendel 2.

Steals: Wendel 3, Hoornaert, Rexin and Wolsky 1.