Ryan Ladika/MDN Jacob Forsman looks for a passing opportunity during the first half of Surrey's 56-47 victory over Berthold. Forsman led his team with 15 points during the contest.

Less than 24 hours removed from an electrifying Glenburn lady Panthers win over Rugby in the Region 6 title game, more basketball was on tap from the Minot Auditorium on the first day of the boys’ 2021 District 12 tournament play.

The Surrey Mustangs and Berthold Bombers squared off in the second of four quarterfinal contests that would be hosted at the auditorium Friday evening. The winners of each game would advance to the semifinal round, while the remaining teams would be matched up in the region qualifying round on the other side of the bracket.

Surrey kicked off the evening’s second contest with a hot start, jumping out to an early 7-2 lead thanks to a make from behind the arc by Jacob Forsman, Jagger Dickman’s layup and two more from Forsman.

The Bombers struck back rather quickly, benefitting from Huntyrr Anderson’s two made free throws after he was fouled, giving him four early points. Randall Polum drilled a three-point shot on the other side, and Seth Fjeldahl added two more to pull the deficit to 10-6. Forsman added two points in response, and Surrey eventually ended the first eight minutes ahead by a 17-11 score.

The second period was much more balanced, with Berthold outscoring Surrey 11-10 in the period. Anderson put two more points on the scoreboard, followed by three points from Patrick Simons after he was fouled on his attempt and made his try from the line. Dalen Engg made the Mustangs’ second basket of the quarter after Cole Horner’s early three-pointer, and both teams later completed the back-and-forth period with Surrey holding a much slimmer 27-24 lead.

Both defenses stood strong out of the halftime break, and the first basket was not scored until Walker Wold’s two points with six minutes and 21 seconds left. Neither team was able to rattle off an extended scoring run, and six different Mustangs scored 15 total points in the frame, led by Forsman’s four points.

Surrey held its opposition to just nine points in the final eight minutes, and Engg’s seven points led a 14-point Mustangs fourth quarter en route to a 56-47 final score. Forsman’s 15 total points led his team, and Berthold was led by Wold’s 17.

Our Redeemer’s blows past

Glenburn 56-19

The No. 1 Knights overpowered the No. 8 Panthers from the moment the referee’s first whistle sounded. Zach Hendrickson drilled two shots from beyond the arc en route to eight total points in the first eight minutes, and the Our Redeemer’s shut Glenburn out through the first period of play 20-0. Much like oil and water simply do not mix, the ball simply would not find the inside of the net coming off a Panther’s hand.

Hendrickson and William Sanders combined for five more to start the second quarter, and Glenburn finally cracked the scoreboard with four minutes and 18 seconds left thanks to a two-pointer made by Preston Peters. Glenburn eventually cruised to a 56-19 victory, led by Zach Hendrickson’s 15 points. Devin Heinze and Cole Rolland both tallied four points to lead the Panthers.