Sean Williams/MDN Ava Schuster (23) and Clancy Hornberger (22) of the Stanley Blue Jays were integral parts of helping their team pick up a 53-49 win over the Velva Aggies on Friday.

The Class B girls’ basketball season is in its infancy stages, however, the schedule is already fully loaded as 12 teams made their way to the Magic City to partake in the Minot Auditorium Shootout.

On Friday, twelve teams treated fans to the start of an exciting two days as the city of Minot was able to play host to some of the best talent that Class B has to offer.

Foreshadowing the same format for the second day, there was a total of six games played on Friday as players and coaches were ready for an immediate test to see where they stand amongst a surplus of talented teams.

Getting the day started were the Westhope-Newburg Sioux and South Prairie-Max Royals, who struggled to get going early. The Sioux displayed tough defense, creating multiple turnovers in the first quarter with their highlights on offense coming from Kimberly Tabarez, who got a transition layup and nailed a 3-pointer minutes later, accounting for 5 of the Sioux 7 first quarter points.

Leading the way for the Royals early on was eighth grader Rylee Routledge, as she sunk a 3-pointer with under a minute to go in the first quarter to give the Royals an 8-7 lead. Moving into the second quarter, the Sioux continued to bring toughness on defense, as they went on a run to take an 11-8 lead with 6:12 to go after a transition bucket by Ellie Braaten. Kimberly Tabarez followed suit, extending the lead to 15-8 off a steal.

A jumper by MaKya Gerding knotted things at 15-15 with 2:48 to go in the first half. The Sioux countered by going on a five-point scoring burst on back-to-back possessions, courtesy of a jumper by Karen Solis and a 3-pointer by Braaten, retaking the lead at 20-15. The Sioux would take a 22-15 lead into the break.

After struggling to generate a consistent offensive attack, Routledge would sink another 3-pointer to trim the Royals’ deficit to seven after it reached double-digits. Braaten would answer on the following possession, sinking a long two to make it a 27-18 game at the midway point of the third. They would remain in control, holding a 31-22 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Opening the final quarter on an 8-3 run were the Royals, who made it a four-point game at 34-30 with 4:11 left. Timely free throws by Braaten would make it a six-point lead as the Sioux were looking to close it out. A 7-0 run would help them do that as the Sioux came out on top, 44-34.

Ellie Braaten and Kimberly Tabarez led the way for the Sioux with 19 points each. Behind them were Ashley Tabarez, Abriana Lesmann, and Karen Solis who scored 2 points each.

Rylee Routledge led the way for the Royals with 14 points. Skotti Beck (6), MaKya Gerding (5), Amy Mikkelson (4), Abby Mikkelson (4), and Hattie Heer (1) rounded out the points.

Making their way to the court next were the Bishop Ryan Lions and Kenmare/Bowbells Honkers, where the Honkers enter play as the top ranked team in the shootout. Utilizing paint points early from Brenna Stoklund and Kate Zimmer, the Honkers grabbed a 7-2 lead with five minutes left in the opening quarter. They would remain in control early, taking a 16-6 lead into the second quarter.

Mirroring a similar attack, the Lions opened the second quarter with Magee Rovig finding Alena Johannsen in the paint for a bucket to open up the scoring. Violet Demars would add a baseline bucket as well, making it a 17-10 game with under six minutes left in the half.

Both teams would go quiet moving closer to the break, until Mashae Miller nailed a mid-range jumper to give the Honkers a 22-10 lead with 2:11 left. The Honkers would maintain a 26-15 lead heading into half.

Coming out of the break on a 10-0 run were the Honkers, as they looked to remain in control of the contest. Johannsen broke the drought for the Lions, scoring in the paint with just under 4:00 left as the Honkers led 38-17. Tochi Udekwe would pick up a pair of baskets for the Lions down the stretch, but they trailed 40-21 heading into the final quarter.

Second chance points and getting to the foul line helped the Honkers stay in control early in the final quarter, as they led 47-25 with 4:52 left. Their bench would provide efficient minutes down the stretch, as they topped the Lions 58-29.

Brenna Stroklund led the way for the Honkers with 14 points. Following her was Mashae Miller (13), Alexa Varty (6), Kate Zimmer (6), Taya Aufforth (6), Madison Melin (3), Anne Stroklund (2), and Brea Chrest (2) to round out the point totals for the Honkers.

Leading the way for the Lions was Alena Johannsen, who finished with 14 points. Behind her was Tochi Udekwe (6), Violet Demars (4), Claire Fegley (2), and Magee Rovig (1).

The Velva Aggies and Stanley Blue Jays battled it out next, where both teams were struggling to get their offense going. Defense was prominent, as the Aggies and Blue Jays were not giving up easy looks and sat in a 2-2 tie with 5:22 left in the first quarter. A full court pass from Clancy Hornberger to Ava Schuster for a layup gave the Blue Jays a 6-3 lead, providing an early highlight.

As the opening quarter grew, both teams started to settle in a little bit. Olivia Passa of the Aggies tied the game at 8-8 when she sunk a 3-pointer. With 1:03 left, Schuster continued to be a spark by drawing a foul and scoring to give the Blue Jays a 14-11 lead. In what developed into a higher scoring affair early, the Blue Jays took a 14-13 lead into the second quarter.

A sequence for the Aggies that consisted of a layup by Anya Olson then a steal and transition score by Olivia Miller made it a 20-19 Blue Jays lead nearing the midway point of the second quarter. The Blue Jays, however, would go on an 8-0 following the Aggies surge as they were not wanting to let their foot off the gas.

A timely offensive rebound and floater by Hadley DeTienne silenced a little bit of noise the Aggies were making, as the Blue Jays were pushing closer to securing a halftime lead. They would do so, going into the break with a 36-25 advantage.

Utilizing strong defense and playing at a fast tempo were the Blue Jays, who immediately came out of the break and took a 40-27 lead, causing the Aggies to take a timeout with 5:22 left in the third quarter.

The break would be of benefit to the Aggies, who came out scoring six in a row. Just as the Blue Jays came storming back, the Aggies answered with consecutive buckets started by Natalie Nechiporenko. Heading into the final quarter, the Blue Jays led 45-37.

Clinging to a 50-42 lead with 4:12 left in the game, the Blue Jays went a little quiet to begin the fourth quarter, but the teams continued to exchange transition points with neither able to establish a consistent run. A Miller basket and a turnover with 37 seconds left had the Aggies within two at 51-49 as the drama was building late.

It would stop there, however, as the Blue Jays were able to come out victorious in a 53-49 final as two free throws by Schuster sealed it for her team.

Ava Schuster scored 26 points for the Blue Jays, while Clancy Hornberger (8), Hadley DeTienne (7), Bethany Enander (6), Mattiea Stone (6) finished out the scoring.

Olivia Miller was the Aggies leading scorer with 12. Anya Olson (10), Olivia Passa (8), Hailee Kvamme (6), Natalie Nechiporenko (6), Kaylee Tomlinson (2), Anna Harden (2), and Taryn Braaten (2) added the remaining points.

Entering play as the second highest ranked team in the shootout, the Thompson Tommies matched up with the Bottineau Stars as play continued to roll on. Displaying excellent passing and ball movement early, the Tommies went on an 8-0 run to begin the game. Hallie Nero of the Stars got her team on the board of an offensive rebound and putback opportunity. Two free throws by Kyle Simpson cut the lead in half at 8-4 with 5:12 left.

Nero would continue to make an impact early, grabbing another offensive rebound and scoring to give the Stars an 11-8 lead with 2:15 left in the opening quarter. A 3-pointer by Olivia Dick would give the Tommies the lead back with 15 seconds left, bringing the game to its final after one with the Tommies holding a 14-13 lead.

Picking up the pace in the second quarter were the Tommies, who got a handful of turnovers and began attacking the basket to the tune of a 20-18 lead with 4:08 to go. Clara Stevens extended the lead, utilizing her rebounding abilities and sinking a free throw to make it a 23-18 game with 2:15 left in the half. Additional free throws from Brenna Martin would help the Tommies go to the half with a 27-20 lead.

Getting off to a fast start once again were the Tommies, who got four quick points in under a minute, causing the Stars to take a timeout. Even though the Tommies were surging, second chance points were keeping the Stars afloat, as Madeline Guariglia, Kiara Poitra, and Nero got involved, keeping it a seven-point game at 39-32 with 1:45 left in the third quarter. The Stars would close out strong, bringing the deficit to a measly two points at 39-37 heading into the fourth quarter.

The Stars put a lot of pressure on the Tommies defensively, which caused a multitude of turnovers to help them stay in the game. At the midway point of the quarter just four points were scored between both teams as Thompson owned a 41-39 lead. Simpson of the stars would sink one from the charity stripe, to make it a one-point game, but Thompson would stretch the lead to three on their next possession.

With the shot clock winding down and it seeming like the Stars were going to get an important stop with 20 seconds left. Martin of the Tommies grabbed an offensive rebound and drew a foul, going to the line in what could be the deciding factor in the game. She would sink one, making it a 44-40 game.

Nero would go down on the other end and do the same but added a field goal to make it 44-42 with 9 seconds left. The Stars played tough against a really good Thompson team but would fall short 44-42 despite a late effort.

Brenna Martin led the Tommies with 12 points in the win. Olivia Dick (8), Kyra Hurst (7), Sydney Schwabe (7), Addison Sage (5), and Clara Stevens (5) all contributed towards the point total.

Hallie Nero led the Stars with 16 points, while Kyra Beckman (10), Kylie Simpson (8), Erin Guariglia (4), Madeline Guariglia (2), and Kiara Poitra (2) rounded out the Stars’ points.

Game five: New Town 53, Dickinson Trinity 42

NT: Carter Charboneau (17), Sunnie Belgrade (16), Jaeden Grady (6), Dora Marie Salter (5), Aiyona Grey (4), Kaitleigh Brady (5).

DT: Jersey Erie (12), Ava Jahner (12), Delaney Deschamp (6), Nevaeh Tormaschy (5), Katherine Schneider (3), Olivia Kessel (2), McKenna Ernst (2).

Game six: Alexander @ Midway-Minto

AL: Lainey Powell (8), Lohgan Hanna (5), Paige Delaney (4), McKenzie Suko (3), Presley Powell (2).

MM: Elyse McMillan (26), Maddy Korynta (17), Addy Hefta (6), Elle Brueckner (6), Emma McMillan (2), Danni Korynta (2), Danielle Flanders (2).

The teams will hit the court again today to wrap up the shootout. The Royals and Blue Jays will get play started this morning, with tipoff scheduled for 11:30 a.m.