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Rugby BBB takes Region 6 crown from ORCS

Jimmy Lafakis/MDN Rugby players celebrate with fans after winning Thursday's Region 6 Tournament at the MSU Dome. The Panthers earned a 61-33 victory over the Our Redeemer's Knights.

In the biggest game of the season so far, the No. 3-ranked Rugby boys basketball team stuck to the plan.

The District 11 No. 1-seeded Panthers (22-2) pelted District 12 No. 1-seeded Our Redeemer’s (19-6) with a first-half flurry in Thursday evening’s Region 6 Tournament championship. Rugby walked away with a 61-33 victory inside the MSU Dome.

“They want to do it as a team,” Rugby head coach Mike Santjer said. “It’s a lot of fun to coach that way.”

Rugby whipped the ball around the perimeter in the early stages. The Panthers’ sublime ball movement and efficient transition attack became first-half boons.

Senior forward Jaden Hamilton knocked down a few triples, and the Panthers found themselves in business. Thanks in large part to its sterling senior core, Rugby took a convincing 32-19 lead into halftime.

“They’re a special crew,” Santjer said about Rugby’s seniors. “The three guys that start, they’ve started since they were sophomores. As a whole, there are six of them on the team. They’re a blast. They have shown up their whole careers to practice, and they’re excited to be there. They’re going to be missed tremendously.”

The Panthers solidified the outside threat and established a strong paint presence in the second half. Rugby’s balance helped the squad hop in the driver’s seat.

“We knew that (Our Redeemer’s) was going to come out and be really physical with us,” Santjer said. “We wanted to work the ball inside and make them collapse. Then, we could kick out and knock down shots. It worked for us.”

The Knights hit some outside shots in the final two frames, but the Panthers made a concerted effort to play solid defense.

That defense became a key component down the stretch. With 1:45 remaining in the contest, Rugby subbed in a few fresh faces and led 59-33.

Just a short while later, the Rugby faithful hollered with excitement as orange streamers dropped down to the court. The Panthers added another feather in their cap — Region 6 champions.

“It was amazing,” Rugby senior guard Trace Goven said. “We started this goal in the beginning of December. It was a long, grind-it-out season. We worked hard every day.”

Hamilton, Goven and junior forward Isaiah Bundy-Smith scored 14 points apiece for the Panthers and received All-Region Team honors. Devan Michels also captured an All-Region Team spot, and Hamilton was crowned as the Region 6 Senior Athlete of the Year.

The victory marks another banner moment for the Rugby athletic programs. After the girls basketball team earned Region 6 championship last month, the boys will travel to state next week.

“It’s a unique thing,” Santjer said. “Rugby should be pretty proud of their athletics and their kids. They’re a great group of kids. They work really hard for their coaches.”

ORCS sophomore forward Zach Hendrickson scored a team-high 13 points for the Knights. Hendrickson and senior forward Landon Lang seized All-Region Team honors.

Lang, Evan Stenvold, Cameron Abel and Nathon Lakoduk represented the Knights for the last time.

“They got here for a reason,” ORCS head coach Brody Bosch said. “It was their heart and effort they put in every day. It was their work ethic and how they just bought into what we want to build here as a program.”

The Class B Boys Basketball Tournament is scheduled to begin next Thursday. This year, the Bismarck Event Center will host the tournament.

The seeding announcement will be held at halftime of the 2 p.m. Class A girls basketball semifinal this afternoon.

“We’re super-pumped,” Santjer said. “It’s been a couple of years since we’ve been there. The last time we were there, we ended up winning the championship. If these guys stay together and stay after it, they’ve got a great chance.”

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

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