Brandon Carr/MDN Minot High senior forward Allie Nelson (2) gets the bucket and the foul against Turtle Mountain Community High School sophomore Katie Delorme (32) for two of her 11 first-half points on Thursday evening in Minot.

No. 6 seed Minot High School girls basketball team came into Thursday’s West Region home play-in game looking to duplicate their 71-37 thrashing against No. 11-seeded Turtle Mountain Community High School when the two teams last played in early February.

Minot High did so, taking a commanding 45-13 halftime lead, and cruised to a 99-29 victory over Turtle Mountain Community High School, setting a school record for most points scored in a single game on Thursday evening.

“We broke the scoring record with 94 points (Jan. 3) in their place, and we broke our previous record tonight with 99. It is kind of neat,” said head coach Jason Schwarz.

The Majettes came out aggressive after the opening tip. Senior guard Becca Tschetter stepped into an open 3-pointer to set the tempo of the game. The next possession, Minot forced a shot clock violation.

Senior forward Allie Nelson drew a foul at the rim on a contested layup for two more points, which was followed by senior forward Lauren McLean’s 15-foot jump shot.

TMCHS head coach Dr. Eugene Monette felt the game getting out of hand in the opening minutes and called a time out.

Then, the flood gates open.

The Majettes went on a 38-5 run, blowing the game open with a 45-13 lead heading into halftime.

“We knew we couldn’t let them get any confidence right away,” said Schwarz. “They switched defenses quite a bit, and we were able to adjust and adapt to what they were running. It helps when you’re shooting well from the outside. Everything seems to flow better when the ball starts going in the hole. We got plenty of opportunities at the rim and getting to the foul line, which is key for us.”

The second half was no different from the first as Minot high upped the pressure. It became a track meet.

The Majettes’ defense would force a turnover or contest a shot, and the rebounder would push the ball up the court while the other four players sprinted to the rim.

The lead reached 40 then 50 then 60. The crowd erupts after every made basket. With the score getting out of reach, Monette called another timeout. The starters for both teams were on the bench as the substitutes enter the game.

The crowd starts to murmur as the Majettes reach 90 points. Faculty, students and fans erupt when the record for points in a single-game was tied with 94, then broken with a 3-pointer for 97.

With under a minute to play, Minot High players stood up to cheer their teammates on as the century mark is near. The crowd hangs on after every shot attempt. A 3-pointer goes up in the waning moments but rolls in and out the rim — a sigh released from the building.

Nelson led Minot High with 20 points. The Majettes also received contributions from McLean (13 points), Mariah Evenson (12), Becca Tschetter (11), Avery Lunde (8), Tia Haskins (6), Kinsey Kaylor (6), Paige Rosencrans (5), Landry Maragos (5), Elsie Hardy (4), Micah Walter (4), Alexis Haider (3) and Avery Falcon (2).

“Last year’s play-in game left a bad taste in our mouth,” Nelson said. “We knew coming into this game we had to play our best. We executed really well and got the job done… Intensity was one of the biggest factors that we had to have tonight. Jump on (TMCHS) early, and I think we did that tonight.”

Kylin Malaterre led TMCHS with 7 points, followed by Sadie Monette (5), Avery LaFountain (4), Katie Delorme (3) and Kobi Keplin (2).

Minot High moves on to the quarterfinals of the Class A West Region Tournament, where they will face the number No. 3-seeded Bismarck High on March 5 at 7:15 p.m.

“(Bismarck High) brings a real challenging style; they apply pressure by pressing throughout the game, so it’s going to be mentally taxing for us to stay focus the whole game,” Schwarz said. “But its got to be a real team effort. We have to do what we did tonight by getting good looks and taking care of the basketball and get good looks at the basket each time. In the postseason you have to take the baskets you want and not force the offense.”