Kari Gibb/MDN Our Redeemer’s junior Gus Engelhard (30) goes up for a shot against Velva Friday at Our Redeemer’s Christian School.

The Velva Aggies boys basketball team has been on a hectic week of games. Starting on January 14, the Aggies were at Westhope-Newburg (ranked 7) followed by a trip to Bishop Ryan on January 17 to face the No. 2 team in Division B. With a home game against Glenburn on Monday, the Aggies traveled to Our Redeemer’s who are ranked at No. 5 in the polls.

Despite the fact that Velva has been ranked and continues to receive votes in the polls, the Knights were able to overcome the athletic nature of the competitive Aggies for the home win 64-53 in Minot.

The game started out slowly with the score knotted at 2-2 with 5:54 left to play in the first quarter. The hosting Knights began to chip away at the rusty shooting and had a 9-4 lead roughly two minutes later and a 13-8 score at the end of the first quarter of play.

The second quarter turned up the shooting, particularly beyond the arc for Our Redeemer’s and the Knights led 21-12 with 2:55 left to play in the second quarter. The teams went to break at the half with the hosts ahead 30-19.

Both teams started the third quarter with high energy, and that translated into more points for the hosts than the visitor. Our Redeemer’s led 40-21 with 4:51 in the third to play. Velva began to find the net and narrowed the gap. By the end of the third quarter of play, the Knights led 47-35.

There are six teams in District 6 that have three wins. All six are just behind Bishop Ryan with an undefeated start to the season and a 4-0 record in district play.

With roughly eight games for each team left before postseason play, Our Redeemer’s, TGU, Surrey, Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood, Westhope-Newburg and Velva are in a race for second place in the standings and a seeding battle.

Velva will host Surrey on Tuesday, January 28 with a trip to TGU on Thursday, January 30, to close out the month.

Our Redeemer’s travels to Glenburn on Tuesday and across town to Surrey on Thursday as well.

Westhope-Newburg 85, Drake-Anamoose 38

Drake-Anamoose made the trip north to face the No. 7 ranked Division B team in the polls this week, the Sioux.

The win keeps Westhope-Newburg in the hunt for second place in the District 6 standings and seeding prior to the postseason action next month.

TGU 60, Glenburn 47

The Titans traveled to face the Panthers Friday, January 24, and took a road win home with them.

TGU keeps pace with the pack as several District 6 teams fight for seeding between two and seven with Bishop Ryan holding the top slot currently.