Jimmy Lafakis/MDN Rugby senior guard Devan Michels goes up for a shot in the first quarter of Tuesday's Region 6 Tournament semifinal game against Nedrose at the MSU Dome. The Panthers captured a 66-32 victory over the Cardinals.

The No. 3-ranked Rugby boys basketball team caught fire in a flash.

The District 11 No. 1-seeded Panthers (21-2) surged ahead of District 11 No. 3-seeded Nedrose (13-11) in the early stages of Tuesday’s Region 6 Tournament game at the MSU Dome. Three Panthers (Jaden Hamilton, Trace Goven and Warren Walker) posted double-figure scoring totals in Rugby’s 66-32 win.

“Our transition games were good,” Rugby head coach Mike Santjer said. “Our 1-3-1 defense really got in the passing lanes, and we got some turnovers. Once we saw the basketball go in with some layups, the shooting came around.”

The Panthers stormed out to a 24-7 lead in the first quarter. The Cardinals strung together some makes in the second quarter, but Rugby led 41-21 at halftime.

Rugby converted all three of its outside chances in the first quarter and finished the first half with a 17-for-31 (54.8%) field goal percentage.

For the game, Rugby shot 28-for-53 (52.8%). Despite the Panthers’ stellar offensive performance, Nedrose attacked a few chinks in their defensive armor.

“There were some minutes tonight where we weren’t fully clicking and working as hard as we can on the defensive side,” Santjer said. “In the championship game, I think we’ll probably bring that energy. Just because it’s the championship game. It’s just reminding them, ‘Hey, you’ve got to play all 32 minutes. Don’t take any minutes off.'”

Hamilton, Rugby’s senior forward, scored a game-high 19 points on 7-for-15 shooting. Additionally, Hamilton shot 3-for-6 (50%) from behind the arc and provided a major lift in the first half.

“Senior year can’t get any better,” he said. “I’m really having fun with these guys.”

Goven poured in 15 points and nabbed six rebounds for the Panthers, while Walker contributed 14 points and five rebounds. No Nedrose player finished in double figures, but senior guard Jethro Lauron tallied eight points and four assists.

The teams’ assist-to-turnover ratios painted a telling picture. Rugby recorded 17 assists to Nedrose’s six assists, and the Panthers forced 19 Nedrose turnovers while commiting just nine.

Seven Nedrose seniors will suit up for the final time in Thursday’s third-place game at 6 p.m. against District 11 No. 2-seeded Drake-Anamoose. That group includes Lauron, Benson Huber, Sam Overton, Kelly Eggen, Trevor Cannon, Kaleb Fjeld and Kaydin Vernon.

“When we started this program five years ago, they were with me,” Nedrose head coach Patrick Norby said. “A lot of them started as eighth-graders. They went through a 2-19 season the first year to having two years in the regional tournament. They basically are Nedrose right now. They established that, so hats off to them.”

Rugby will face District 12 No. 1-seeded Our Redeemer’s in a 7:30 p.m. championship contest on Thursday evening. The teams did not meet in the regular season.

“I’m just really proud of them,” Santjer said about the Panthers. “They work really hard every day. They come to practice with good attitudes. They’re a special group, and I’m glad to be their coach. That is for sure.”

Jimmy Lafakis covers Minot High School sports and Class B high school sports. Follow him on Twitter @JJLII30.