Fueling the Fire (birds): Cards swept by Devils Lake

After years of being among the small fish in the Class A ocean, the Devils Lake Firebirds are now the Division A middle class's big men (and women) on campus.

So, the Carrington Cardinals are busy trying to adjust to life as the plucky underdog themselves.

The Cards and Firebirds met for Region 2 games Monday and Tuesday, January 22 and 23, with the boys playing in Carrington and the girls in Devils Lake.

In the Monday game, the talent of the bigger school won out again and again in a 77-31 win over CHS.

A whopping 14 different players scored for the Firebirds (11-1, 3-1 Region 2) in the rout, and no player scored more than 10 points. Wylee Delorme and Drew Hofstad shared that distinct honor.

Additionally, DLHS hit 12 threes to pull away swiftly from the first quarter onward.

Josh Bickett's 13 points led the Cards (1-10, 0-4 Region 2), and Grady Shipman had eight. The two players were the only ones for CHS to have more than two points in the books.

One night later at the Sports Center, the Cardinal girls had an opportunity to move into the number two spot in the Region 2 table, but couldn't hold a 12-point lead and would fall by eight, 52-44.

The Firebird press, like it did in the first game the teams played in the East Gym, was unrelenting and forced a total of 32 Cardinal turnovers.

Torri Fee's 14 points led Devils Lake, who improved to 10-4 and 4-2 in regional play. Adding 10 points was Jolie Martinson, and Presley Brown had eight.

Kacie Rexin hit two threes for Carrington (11-4, 4-3) and ended her night with 14 points. Edyn Hoornaert had eight points in the loss for the Cards.

Carrington shot 8-for-16 from the line for 50 percent, a lull compared to recent efforts.

The Cardinal boys will be at Thompson Tuesday night, and venture out of Division A to play the HWC Hornets in Harvey on February 3.

The girls get their own shot at the top-ranked Tommies Thursday evening, and also play HWC in Carrington on February 2.

Region 2 Boys Basketball

Devils Lake 77, Carrington 31

at Carrington

DL 23 20 17 17 77

Cgtn. 9 5 8 9 31

Carrington: Josh Bickett 13, Grady Shipman 8, Owen Hagel 2, Drew Matt 2, Maddox McIlonie 2, Taylen Mehring 2, Alec Threadgold 2. Totals: 10 FG, 10-19 FT, 14 fouls. Three-pointer: Bickett.

Devils Lake: Wylee Delorme 10, Drew Hofstad 10, Joel Nelson 9, Beau Brodina 8, Parker Brodina 8, Kade Fee 7, Trason Beck 6, Josh Deckert 4, Marquise Dubois 3, Bryar Exner 3, Garrett Peters 3, Brett Mertens 2, Mason Palmer 2, Oliver Wirth 2. Totals: 29 FG, 6-8 FT, 18 fouls. Three-pointers: Hofstad 3, Delorme 2, B. Brodina 2, P. Brodina 2, Nelson, Dubois, Peters.

Region 2 Girls Basketball

Devils Lake 52, Carrington 44

at Devils Lake

Cgtn. 12 17 12 3 44

DL 14 10 13 15 52

Carrington: Kacie Rexin 14, Edyn Hoornaert 8, Madison Johnson 5, Kenadie Pazdernik 5, Olivia Threadgold 4, Isabel Wendel 4, Marah Johnson 2, Kaydence VanRay 2. Totals: 16 FG, 8-16 FT, 20 fouls. Three-pointers: Rexin 2, Madison Johnson, Pazdernik.

Devils Lake: Torri Fee 14, Jolie Martinson 10, Presley Brown 8, Ava Beck 6, Cabryn Fritel 6, Claire Heilman 4, Gabrielle McLaurin 4. Totals: 20 FG, 10-18 FT, 21 fouls. Three-pointers: Fee 2.