Hornets defeat Cards, split in region games

The HWC boys basketball team played another stellar schedule this week, with three games against quality opponents.

The Hornets opened the week up with a comeback effort that fell two points short against Dunseith, while the remainder of the week proved to be much better as the Hornets continued to improve on their balanced play, defeating Carrington and St. John, both on the road.

Upcoming action has the Hornets paired against NR-S and Warwick in more super regional action, determining postseason tournament seedings.

Dunseith 59, HWC 57

The Dunseith Dragons stepped up the defense when it was needed, and held off a late Hornet comeback attempt to seal a huge Super Regional win in Harvey, 59-57, on Thursday, February 2.

HWC got out to a quick 6-2 lead on three pointers from Tate Grossman and Gabe Allmaras. Corben House scored six straight for the Dragons, as the visitors took a two-point lead midway through the quarter. Jeremy Laducer Jr. connected on a three- pointer at the end of the first quarter to give Dunseith a 19-17 lead.

A 13-6 advantage to start the second put the Dragons up nine at 32-23. HWC closed the gap at the half to four points, as Grossman had five of the final seven points, moving the score to 37-33.

Allmaras started the second half with a field goal, but threes from Laducer Jr. and Tayden Azure sparked a 8-0 run and gave the Dragons a 10-point lead. The Hornets scored seven of the next nine points, but another three from Azure, that used all of the cylinder, put the Hornets down, 50-42, after three.

A bucket from Boston Davis moved the lead back to 10, but Tallen Thorson converted on three free throws, and with a basket from Allmaras, cut the lead to five. Azure once again answered with a booming three-pointer to give the Dragons a 55-47 lead. A deuce from Keaton Keller and a two-and-one from Allmaras cut the lead to 55-53 and gave HWC a glimmer of hope with 3:40 left on the clock.

The defenses took over from that point, as neither team could really take advantage of their opportunities. A driving layup by Davis was answered by two more free throws from Thorson, and then two free throws by Davis were followed up by a field goal from Thorson, and the score was 59-57 with 14.8 seconds remaining. The Hornets' defense caused a turnover but the scoring chance went south as the Dragons held on for the two-point victory.

Davis led the Dragons, who moved to 10-4 on the season, with 18 points, and was followed closely by Azure with 14 and House with 12. The Hornets were led by Grossman and Allmaras, who each tallied 18 on the night. Thorson was also in double digits with 13 points. Both Grossman and Allmaras were also in double digits in rebounding with 12 and 10, respectively.

The win moved Dunseith to 4-3 in Super Regional play, while the loss dropped HWC to 9-5 overall and 3-2 in regional play.

HWC 65, Carrington 51

HWC took advantage of the distinct size advantage, and Allmaras was the recipient as the senior scored 12 of the Hornets' 21 third quarter points, propelling the visitors to a 21-9 quarter advantage and a 65-51 non-region win over the Cardinals in Carrington on Saturday, February 4.

Thorson got the Hornets started early, as the sophomore drained two three pointers in an early 8-2 lead. Grossman would connect on a three later to move the Hornet lead to 15-8, but Carrington, behind eight points from Hudson Schmitz and three-pointers from Josh Bickett and Ryder Bickett, cut the Hornet lead to just 17-16 after one.

HWC scored the first seven points of the second quarter, including Thorson's third three, to take an eight-point advantage. Brock Fike added another three for HWC, but two field goals from Jack Erickson and another from Ryder Bickett cut the halftime lead to just 31-26.

The Hornets dominated the third quarter with their size advantage, as Allmaras scored six in a 10-0 start. Grady Shipman scored five and Erickson added four more for Carrington, but the Hornets scored the final seven of the third to lead 52-35.

Fike's second three of the game started the fourth and moved the lead to 20. The Cardinals still had enough fight left in them to make a run at HWC late. Erickson scored three and Schmitz added a three to cut the lead to 14. A later 7-0 run from Carrington saw Erickson's two-and- one cutting into the Hornet lead even more at 57-48. A three from Josh Bickett pulled the home team to within eight late in the fourth before the Hornets scored the final six points, including Keaton Keller's perfect 4-for-4 shooting from the line, making the final 65-51.

Allmaras led all scorers in the game with 20 points, and was followed closely by Thorson's 17. Erickson tallied 16 and Schmitz added 15 for the Cardinals. Allmaras also grabbed 12 rebounds including seven offensive boards for HWC, while Shipman had seven steals for the Cardinals as they forced HWC into 19 turnovers.

The win moved HWC to 10-5 overall, while Carrington dropped to 9-7 on the season.

HWC 66, St. John 51

Five Hornet players scored nine points or more, as the offense and defense played inspired basketball in a 15-point Super Regional victory over the Woodchucks in St. John on Monday, February 6.

Grayson Greybear knocked down two three-pointers early in the first, as the Woodchucks took an early 9-5 lead. The Hornets worked their way back to a three-point lead on a 7-0 run, but back-to-back field goals from Brayton Baker gave St. John a 15-14 lead after one. Grossman, Noah Ziegler and Teagan Tipton connected on three pointers in the second, helping the Hornets to a 17-4 start to the second quarter. Baker scored six straight and Greybear made two free throws to end the half, pulling the Woodchucks to within six at 33-27.

Greybear's third three of the night cut the HWC lead to three, but the Hornets responded with a 6-0 run and Fike's second trey of the game. Back-to-back buckets from Keller and a steal and layup from Fike moved the HWC lead to 13. Eight straight from St. John cut the Hornet advantage to 45-40, but Fike's three at the horn gave the Hornets a huge boost heading into the final eight minutes.

The Hornets opened the fourth on a 12-4 run, with Allmaras scoring eight and moving the lead to 60-44. The Hornets controlled the remainder of the game, claiming the 66-51 win.

Grossman led the Hornets with 14 points, with Allmaras chipping in with 13. Grossman dished out seven assists and Allmaras cleared all the boards with 19 rebounds, including nine on the offensive glass. Fike and Keller were also in double digits in scoring with 11 points each. Baker led all scorers on the night with 24 points, while Greybear added 13.

The win moved HWC to 11-5 on the season and 4-2 in regional play while St. John dropped to 8-7 overall and 3-5 in regional play.

Region 4 Boys' Basketball

Dunseith 59, HWC 57

at Harvey

Duns. 19 18 13 9 59

HWC 17 16 9 15 57

HWC: Gabe Allmaras 18, Tate Grossman 18, Tallen Thorson 13, Brock Fike 3, Noah Ziegler 3, Keaton Keller 2.

Dunseith: Boston Davis 18, Tayden Azure 14, Corben House 12, Jeremy Laducer Jr. 9, Luke Lunday 6.

HWC Additional Stats

Rebounds: Grossman 12, Allmaras 10, Keller 7, Fike and Thorson 6, Ziegler 1.

Assists: Grossman and Keller 4, Thorson 3, Ziegler 1.

Steals: Fike 1.

Blocks: Grossman and Keller 1.

Nonregion Boys' Basketball

HWC 65, Carrington 51

at Carrington

HWC 17 14 21 13 65

Cgtn. 16 10 9 16 51

HWC: Allmaras 20, Thorson 17, Grossman 9, Fike 8, Keller 6, Ziegler 5.

Carrington: Jack Erickson 16, Hudson Schmitz 15, Grady Shipman 9, Josh Bickett 6, Ryder Bickett 5.

HWC Additional Stats

Rebounds: Allmaras 12, Grossman 9, Keller 6, Fike 4, Thorson 3.

Assists: Grossman 6, Thorson 3, Fike 2, Keller 1.

Steals: Keller 2, Allmaras, Fike, Grossman, Thorson and Ziegler 1.

Blocks: Grossman 3, Allmaras 1.

Carrington Additional Stats

Rebounds: Shipman 6, Erickson and Schmitz 5, J. Bickett 2, McCoy Beckley and Jack Paulson 1.

Assists: Shipman 3, J. Bickett 2, R. Bickett, Erickson and Schmitz 1.

Steals: Shipman 7, Paulson 3, Schmitz 2, Beckley and J. Bickett 1.

Blocks: J. Bickett and Schmitz 1.

Region 4 Boys' Basketball

HWC 66, St. John 51

at St. John

HWC 14 19 15 18 66

St. John 15 12 13 11 51

HWC: Grossman 14, Allmaras 13, Fike 11, Keller 11, Thorson 9, Ziegler 5, Teagan Tipton 3.

St. John: Brayton Baker 24, Grayson Greybear 13, Ethan Decoteau 8, Tuff Longie 4, Caden Belgarde 2.

HWC Additional Stats

Rebounds: Allmaras 19, Grossman and Keller 8, Fike and Thorson 2, Tipton and Ziegler 1.

Assists: Grossman 7, Keller and Thorson 4, Fike, Tipton and Ziegler 1.

Steals: Grossman 1.

Blocks: Grossman 3, Allmaras 1.

St. John Additional Stats

Rebounds: Isaac Charbonneau and Longie 6, Decoteau 5, Baker 3, Greybear 2, Cad. Belgarde and Landyn Jeanotte 1.

Assists: Longie 3, Cad. Belgarde and Decoteau 2, Baker, Cashmyn Belgarde, Charbonneau, Greybear and Jeanotte 1.

Steals: Cas. Belgarde 3, Greybear 2, Baker and Cad. Belgarde 1.

Blocks: Baker and Jeanotte 1.