The South Prairie-Max Royals girls’ basketball team doubled up against the May-Port CG Patriots in their first game of the Shootout on the Prairie, winning the game 72-36 at the Minot Municipal Auditorium Friday night, Dec. 5.

The Royals have earned their second win of the season after dropping their first game to the Carrington Cardinals. The Royals are one of several girls’ basketball teams from around the state coming to Minot to play in the Shootout on the Prairie this weekend.

The Royals had their strongest quarter of the game right off the bat, taking 23 points in the first quarter and only allowing seven points against them. Junior Mya Gunville and senior Maycie Talbott were heavy hitters for the Royals early on. Gunville and Talbott both scored three field goals each in the first quarter. Gunville earned the team eight points and Talbott earned nine. The second quarter of the game was not as strong for the Royals, scoring 19 points total on nine field goals with one out of two free throws completed. Seniors Skotti Beck and Brianna Rose were top scorers for the Royals in the second, with both players completing two shots for two points each. The first half of the game ended with the Royals at a significant advantage with a score of 42-14.

The third quarter was the Royals’ weakest of the game defensively, allowing 11 points against them, and earning just 16 points for themselves. The Royals also struggled more offensively with senior Abigail Mikkelson being the only one to score more than three points. She completed two out of her two free throws and one two-point shot. The fourth quarter began with a Royals lead of 48-17 and saw South Prairie return to their defensive dominance from the first two quarters. Though they had their lowest scoring quarter at 14, they once again allowed just seven points against them, ending the game with double the points of the Patriots with a final score of 72-36.

Mya Gunville and Maycie Talbott were the offensive drives for the Royals on Friday night, earning 14 and 13 points respectively. Gunville scored her points on just one two-point shot and four completed three-pointers. All but three of her points were earned in the first half of the game. Talbott scored her points on two two-pointers and three three-pointers. All three of her three-point scores were in the first quarter of the game.

The Royals will take on the Thompson High School Tommies in the second day of play of the Shootout on the Prairie. The game is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m. at the Minot Municipal Auditorium.