The Official Newspaper for Foster County

Indians rebound for win over HWC

Many thought that the Four Winds-Minnewaukan Indians, after dropping their first game after winning 46 straight, would plow their way through the Harvey-Wells County Hornets for an easy victory, but HWC came to Fort Totten with an upset on their mind and to play well in their last regular season game of the season.

After a close first half, the Indians outscored HWC, 21-11, in the third quarter, and held off the Hornets in the fourth for a 60-47 victory on Friday, February 24.

Brock Fike got the scoring started in the game, draining a 15-footer at the 5:32 mark to give HWC the first points of the game. The first quarter was close throughout, with the Indians getting seven points from standout Deng Deng to take a four point lead. A deuce from Keaton Keller ended the first for HWC, as they trailed, 15-13.

Deng and Dalen Leftbear scored the first six points of the second for FW-M, but four free throws from HWC pulled them back to within four. Five straight from Deng moved the Indian lead to 29-19, but Tate Grossman and Keller combined for four points late to make the halftime score 31-23. Deng scored 17 in the first half to pace the Indians, while Noah Ziegler's eight points led HWC at halftime.

The Hornets stayed close early in the third quarter, as a three from Kelson Keja was answered by a deuce and two free throws from HWC, as the FW-M lead was 36-27. Deng scored seven, Keja added six more and two other Indian players scored four each as FW-M closed out the third on a 16-7 run and quietly built the lead to 18 points after three quarters.

The Indians scored the first three points of the fourth to build the lead to 21, but Grossman caught fire for HWC as the senior scored seven straight. Tallen Thorson added another double and Grossman finished off the 10-0 run with a free throw as the Hornets cut the lead to just 55-44. Deng stopped the HWC momentum with a two-and-one, and then added another deuce as the Indians went on for the 60-47 victory.

Deng led all players on the night with 30 points, while Wade Nestell and Keja were also in doubles with 12 each. HWC was led by Grossman's 19 and Ziegler's 12.

The Indians made 25-of-62 field goals for 43 percent, while the Hornets couldn't get the feel in Fort Totten, making just 16-of-49 for 33 percent.

The Hornets were just 13-of-23 from the charity stripe, a location that HWC is usually solid at. The Hornets committed 21 turnovers, but defensively forced FW-M into 13 turnovers.

With the win, the Indians move to 19-1 overall, while HWC drops to 15-6.

Region 4 Boys' Basketball

Four Winds-Minnewaukan 60,

HWC 47

at Fort Totten

HWC 13 10 11 13 47

FW-M 15 16 21 8 60

HWC: Tate Grossman 19, Noah Ziegler 12, Keaton Keller 6, Gabe Allmaras 5, Brock Fike 3, Tallen Thorson 2.

FW-M: Deng Deng 30, Kelson Keja 12, Wade Nestell 12, Dalen Leftbear 6.

HWC Additional Stats

Rebounds: Grossman 11, Allmaras and Keller 9, Ziegler 4, Fike 2.

Assists: Grossman and Thorson 3, Allmaras and Keller 2.

Steals: Grossman 4, Keller and Thorson 2, Fike 1.

Blocks: Keller 4.

FW-M Additional Stats

Rebounds: Deng 12, Leftbear 10, Ty Dauphinais 5, Nestell 3, Ke. Keja 2, Jonte Delorme, Kylon Keja and Keyshawn St. Pierre 1.

Assists: St. Pierre 3, Leftbear and Nestell 2, Ky. Keja 1.

Steals: Deng 4, Leftbear and Nestell 3, St. Pierre 2, Ke. Keja 1.

Blocks: Deng and Ke. Keja 1.