Magee Rovig (12) of the Bishop Ryan Lions did it all for her team on Tuesday night, hitting multiple 3-pointers and racking up assists in a win against the Hazen Bison

After opening the season with four road games, the Bishop Ryan Lions girls’ basketball team (1-3 overall, 0-2 Region 6) played in front of their home fans for the first time on Tuesday night, as they hosted the Hazen Bison (2-2 overall, 0-0 Region 7) in both teams’ first and only game of the week.

Heading into the matchup, the Bison have lost two in a row, with both losses coming during the Nedrose Tournament against Nedrose and Surrey. The Lions are coming off a loss to Rugby, and although their record is below .500, they’ve been battle tested early with games against tough competition in Kenmare/Bowbells and Westhope/Newburg as well.

With both teams looking to get back on track, it was the Lions who avoided a losing streak in a 55-48 final over the Bison, giving the fans an exciting first home game of the year.

Getting off to a fast start, literally, were the Lions when Tochi Udekwe took the opening tip down the court for a layup to immediately give her team the advantage. Alena Johannsen would cash in on a bucket in the paint on the next possession, with the Lions looking like they were ready to make a statement out of the gates.

Throughout the opening frame, the Lions put on a display of brilliant ball movement. Eva Hernandez got Johannsen open with a bounce pass down low, securing the assist on the Johannsen basket to give the Lions a 12-6 lead with 1:34 left. They would finish the first quarter strong, taking a 15-9 advantage into the second quarter.

Beginning the second quarter on a run were the Bison, who got a three-point play the hard way from Macee Smith, cutting the Lions lead to 16-14 with 6:20 before half. Macey Van Inwagen would score on the next possession, to make it an even game at 16-16.

After Lauren Doll sunk one-of-two free throws, the Bison took their first lead of the night at 17-16 with 5:20 left. The Lions were on a cold streak in the second frame and were looking for an answer.

They would get one when Udekwe drove and scored to break a lengthy scoreless drought, giving the Lions an 18-17 lead with 4:58 left in the half. Doll, however, had an answer as she nailed a 3-pointer to give the Bison the lead again on the next possession at 20-18.

Moving into the half, the second quarter would continue to develop into a back-and-forth affair as the Lions closed out strong to take a 24-23 lead at the break.

Showing a similar start to the second half just as they did in the second quarter were the Bison, who ripped off a 7-2 run to begin the final two quarters. Magee Rovig got the Lions going in the third, getting a three-point play courtesy of a tough layup and free throw to trim their deficit to 30-29 with 5:42 left.

Peyton Beeter would give the Lions a 31-30 lead on a basket, but Makenna Brunmeier would quickly erase that with a timely offensive rebound and score. Rovig would then catch fire, sinking 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions to give the Lions a 37-34 lead and forcing the Bison to take a timeout with 1:57 left in the third frame.

Setting the stage for a thrilling finish, the Lions and Bison continued to display a back-and-forth battle, with the Lions holding a 39-37 edge moving into the final quarter of play. After trading baskets on consecutive possessions to begin the final quarter, the fans that made their way to Bishop Ryan were in for a treat.

Showing off her true point guard abilities, Rovig would find Claire Fegley for a score on a bounce pass through the lane, then Rovig continued to take over by sinking another 3-pointer and causing the Bison to take a timeout again, as the Lions led 46-40 with 5:39 left.

The timeout wouldn’t help the Bison contain Rovig, who picked up an assist on consecutive possessions coming out of the break, finding both Hernandez and Johannsen to make it a 50-42 Lions’ lead with 3:32 left in the contest.

Still, even with the run the Lions were on, the Bison wouldn’t go down quietly as they trailed 50-46 with 1:53 to play. A 3-pointer by Beeter and a coast-to-coast layup by Udekwe felt like the dagger in this one, as the quick burst gave the Lions a 55-46 lead with 1:00 to play.

A pair of timely offensive rebounds by Udekwe turned a quick possession into an extended one for the Lions, helping them drain the clock out and ultimately win the game. The Lions closed out strong, picking up an 55-48 win over Hazen in their first home game of the year.

Magee Rovig led the way for the Lions with 18 points. Peyton Beeter (13), Tochi Udekwe (8), Alena Johannsen (5), Eva Hernandez (2), and Claire Fegley (2) totaled the points in the win.

The Lions will be back in action next week, when they face Dunseith at 3 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 30 during the Hoopster Classic at the Minot Auditorium. That will be the Lions last game until the new year.