Squirrels top Vikings to earn Region 1 boys title, trip to North Dakota Class B tournament

WAHPETON — Central Cass grabbed the lead early and held on for expensive life till the ultimate buzzer in its Area 1 championship matchup with Kindred on Thursday.

The Squirrels outlasted the Vikings 44-40 within the area title sport on the Ed Werre Area on the campus of the North Dakota State Faculty of Science on Thursday night time to advance to the Class B boys state match.

The low-scoring affair performed out behind powerful protection by each groups. Central Cass middle Cole Holzer figured it might a troublesome night time.

“It positively was bodily,” Holzer mentioned. “You simply gotta hold your head, hold working, get all of the rebounds and field out.”

Holzer completed with 11 factors and 15 rebounds for a double-double efficiency. He mentioned the win is good however there’s extra to return.

“It feels good,” Holzer mentioned. “We’ve obtained some extra work to do although. We’ll rejoice this one for a bit bit after which go to work earlier than the state match.”

The Squirrels managed the whole first half after taking the lead within the first quarter. Kindred picked up a bit momentum to finish the primary half. Central Cass led 20-16 at halftime.

The Squirrels stretched the lead early within the third quarter with a 9-2 run for a 29-18 lead on the halfway level. They led 33-23 after three however Kindred saved bouncing again.

Holzer’s bucket with 4:31 to play put the Squirrels up 38-29 however Kindred’s Presley Peraza had a put-back basket simply 10 seconds later, then drilled a 3-pointer to drag the Vikings inside 38-34 with 3:42 left.

Kindred’s Karson Ouse knocked down a jumper to make it 38-36 with 1:53 to play however Central Cass pulled off two key performs to take command once more.

Holzer grabbed a defensive rebound, noticed Eli Buhr releasing and rifled a three-quarter courtroom cross to him for a wide-open layup and a 40-36 lead with 1:10 left. Then Sam Kobbervig broke a press, went within the air at half courtroom and located Buhr, once more wide-open below the basket for an additional layup and a 42-36 lead with 42 seconds left.

Ouse hit one other shot to chop the result in 4 with 23 seconds left and the Vikings’ Brooks Bakko made a layup to chop it to 2. However Central Cass’ Carter Vrchota made certainly one of two free throws with 9 seconds left and Buhr made one other foul shot with two seconds left to seal the deal.

Central Cass head coach Matteson Norman mentioned the rivalry between his workforce and the Vikings was obvious, however he was happy his workforce executed below strain.

“It was a problem proper from the beginning,” Norman mentioned. “However I’m very pleased with our guys and their willingness to beat the challenges within the sport.”

The Squirrels shot 17 for 40 from the sphere. Vrchota and Kobbervig every scored eight factors and Chase Bachmeier completed with six.

Kindred was 18 of fifty from the sphere. Peraza scored 15 factors. Ouse had 10 factors and 6 rebounds and Jorgen Swenson scored seven factors and had six boards.

Vikings head coach Brad Woehl mentioned the offensive struggles harm his workforce within the long-run, however he recommended the “grit” of his younger gamers and hopes they’ll bear in mind the sport.

“We turned over our roster and performed quite a lot of younger youngsters,” Woehl mentioned. “Hopefully it’s a studying expertise transferring ahead.”

With one other week of basketball, Central Cass is hoping to journey the excessive all the best way to the Class B state match. The Squirrels are again in state for the primary time since 2012 and denied Kindred a third-straight journey.

“We simply need to hold our momentum going,” Norman mentioned. “I’m pleased with our youngsters and need to give them the prospect to showcase what they will do in an amazing match.”