“The community is really behind this group of kids,” said Westhope/Newburg head coach Anthony Lee. “The kids are such an excellent group of kids in everything they do that they inspire the communities and love being with each other regardless of the activity.”

The energy level for the state championship game was enough to shake the rafters as both teams had loud fans filling the MSU Dome. That high level of energy transferred from the crowd to the players as both teams put on a three point shooting clinic with the edge in completions going to the Westhope/Newburg Sioux in the first half.

Between the Bearcats and Sioux, both teams were 12-29 from three point range in an arc fest of a first half. Westhope/Newburg shot 48% from the field, 46.7% from the arc on the way to a 31-23 lead over the Bearcats at the end of the first half. The larger players from North Star had the edge rebounding in the first half 17-12 while neither team hit a free throw in the three trips to the charity stripe.

Both teams started the third quarter looking for three point plays; the Sioux from the arc and the Bearcats from the inside game with fouls and free throws. Each team was successful in their tactical plan until Westhope/Newburg hit more three point shots than North Star did free throws. North Star also had 13 turnovers compared to eight for the Sioux.

Adam Papin/MDN Bishop Ryan’s Jett Lundeen (33) drives through two Bowman County defenders during the third-place game of the 2024 Division B Boys Basketball State Championships. Photo by Adam Papin.

Both teams also applied a trapping press defense to start the third quarter as well and turnovers and steals remained a decisive part of the game. The lead for Westhope/Newburg was 49-37 at the end of the third quarter.

The final quarter started the way the game did; with both teams shooting three point shots. Westhope/Newburg had the edge in that shooting contest and widened their lead to start the final quarter.

With a 63-43 lead at the 2:50 mark, the Sioux began milking the clock to bleed valuable seconds away each procession to limit the Bearcats chances of catching up.

“I have played against bigger guys my entire life,” said Sioux junior Braden Bailey. “I am used to being the little guy and you have to find ways to make it happen.”

Westhope/Newburg had six players score. Senior and tournament MVP Braden Bailey had 26 points, five assists, two rebounds and a pair of steals in the win. A battered junior, Walker Braaten finished with 14 points and four rebounds while junior Dayton Hawkins added 12 points and two rebounds in the win. The Sioux were 21-45 from the field, 14-32 from the three point line and 9-15 from the free throw line with 28 rebounds, 13 assists and five steals.

“My back hurts and my calf is sore,” said Braaten of his tournament injuries. “But I knew my teammates had my back and I would rather spend my time with them regardless of what we are doing – so it was never a question of if I would play.”

North Star had six players score. Senior Dane Hagler had 25 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals in the effort.Senior Parker Simon added eight points with seven rebounds.Seniors Karson Simon and Chas Bisbee each scored six points in the loss. The Bearcats were 19-45 from the field, 8-26 from three point range and 6-14 from the free throw line. North Star also had 32 rebounds, 10 assists and four steals.

Third-place game: No. 2 Bowman County 62, No. 4 Bishop Ryan 48

Bowman County missed fewer shots than Bishop Ryan and turned the ball over less in the 2024 NDHSAA Division B State Basketball Tournament giving the Bulldogs the 62-48 win over the Lions for a third place finish at the tournament.

Bowman County scored 19 points in both the first and second quarters to hold a 2 point lead at the end of one and a 38-24 lead over Bishop Ryan going into the half.

First half shooting from three point range was at fifty percent for the Bulldogs while the Lions were 1-7 in the same category. This was a game where any missed shots would come back to haunt. Turnovers would also be a thorn in the paw of the Lions in the first half as they had ten which led to 14 points for Bowman County. The good news in the first half was rebounding where Bishop Ryan had a slight edge 15-14 with nine of those being defensive boards, limiting the second chance points to nine for the Bulldogs.

“We turned the ball over too much,” said Bishop Ryan head coach Broderick Bosch. “We also didn’t shoot as well as we traditionally do either.”

The Bulldogs picked up where they left off to start the third quarter. Bishop Ryan improved their shooting percentage in the third period to close the 14 point gap, trailing the Bulldogs 47-37 to start the final quarter.

Bishop Ryan had six players score. Juniors Jett Lundeen had 21 points with four rebounds, three assists and one steal while Ramsey Walz added 18 points and 18 rebounds along with four blocked shots. The Lions were 21-44 from the field, 1-11 from three point range and 5-13 from the free throw line with 30 rebounds but 16 turnovers that led to 21 points for the Bulldogs..

“We have goals to play in the later games,” said Bosch. “We are going to miss the seniors. They are such examples of what to do both on and off the court and have made a huge impression on the underclassmen. Our future is bright, not only because of the talent of the younger players, but because of the way the seniors have shown what it means to be Lions.”

Bowman County had seven players score. Seniors Bohden Duffield had 21 points, seven rebounds and an assist in the win while his brother Bishop added 18 points, six rebounds and seven steals in the game. The Bulldogs were 26-59 from the field, 9-21 from three point range and 1-2 from the free throw line with 29 rebounds.

Fifth-place game: No. 5 Sargent County 67, No. 7 Our Redeemer’s 65

Our Redeemer’s Christian School Knights are getting used to playing from behind at times and hitting big shots at the end of games to take away a win. The miracle slot machine failed to comply as the Bulldogs from Sargent County would hold on to win the game 67-65.

The Bulldogs led 20-19 at the end of the first quarter. Tough defense and better shooting by the Knights had the score 34-32 for Our Redeemer’s at halftime. The see-saw battle had Sargent County back in front at the end of the third quarter 53-45 with eight minutes to play.

Our Redeemer’s Andrew Eby fouled out with 1:38 to play, leaving the Knights with a smaller lineup to finish the game. Despite the best effort by Our Redeemer’s to close the gap at the end, time would run out before they could.

Our Redeemer’s had eight players score. Freshman Nolan Schmidt had 21 points, seven rebounds and three assists in the effort. Sophomore Payton Lindbo added 14 points with four rebounds while Junior Jace Weekly scored 11 points in the game. The Knights were 22-55 from the field, 9-30 from three point range and 12-13 from the free throw line with 36 rebounds.

Sargent County had seven players score with five in double figures. Senior Luke Martinson led with 15 points, four rebounds while senior Grady Wedhlander added 14 points with 2 rebounds. Senior Nicholas Hansen added 13 points with four rebounds, senior Joshua Wittich added 11 points with 12 rebounds and senior Kolten Kadoun scored 10 points with five rebounds in the win. The Bulldogs were 25-52 from the field, 2-9 from three point range and 15-23 from the free throw line with 29 rebounds.

Seventh-place game: No. 8 LaMoure-Litchville/Marion 59, No. 6 Edgeley/Kulm/Montpelier 55

In a game that came down to the smallest differences, LaMoure-Litchville/Marion (LLM) Loboes turned one extra basket made, two extra free throws made and six extra rebounds into a 59-55 victory over Edgeley/Kulm/Montpelier (EKM) Rebels for seventh place in the 2024 NDHSAA Division B State Basketball Tournament on Saturday.

The Rebels led 18-12 at the end of the first quarter of play. The Loboes caught them and led at the half 33-30 in the evenly matched game. EKM outscored the Loboes 14-9 in the third quarter to take a 44-42 lead into the final eight minutes of play.

The Loboes had five players score with none hitting more than senior Max Musland with 36 points and 11 rebounds in the win. Junior Brayan Karlgaard added eight points with three rebounds while senior Blaise Isaacson scored seven points with a pair of rebounds. LLM was 21-46 from the field, 9-24 from three point range and 8-9 from the free throw line with 28 rebounds.

The Rebels had seven players score. Senior Jacob Nitschke had 19 points with four rebounds. Senior Austin Strobel had 13 points with seven rebounds while senior Zeke Barnick added nine points in the effort. EKM was 20-42 from the field, 9-19 from three point range and 6-11 from the free throw line with 22 rebounds in the game.

2024 NDHSAA Division B Boys Basketball

All-Tournament Team

Jacob Nitschke, Edgeley/Kulm/Montpelier

Max Musland, LaMoure-Litchville/Marion

Nolan Schmidt, Our Redeemer’s Christian School

Luke Martison, Sargent County

Ramsey Walz, Bishop Ryan

Jett Lundeen, Bishop Ryan

Bodhen Duffield, Bowman County

Bishop Duffield, Bowman County

Braden Bailey, Westhope-Newburg

Walker Braaten, Westhope-Newburg

Parker Simon, North Star

Dane Hagler, North Star

Tournament MVP – Braden Bailey. Westhope-Newburg

2024 NDHSCA Division B Boys Basketball Senior Athlete of the Year: Dane Hagler, North Star

2024 NDHSCA Division B Boys Basketball Coach of the Year: Anthony Lee, Westhope/Newburg

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