Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
With the 2019 State Class B field finally set after Region 3’s championship night was delayed to Friday, March 8, the random draw for the top five seeds was held at the Super A Tournament in Bismarck that evening.
And New Rockford-Sheyenne ended up earning the number five overall seed when season resumes from they and their peers underwent advanced scrutiny.
With a result of that decision from the NDHSAA, the Rockets faced fourth-seeded Minot Bishop Ryan, also sporting a 22-3 overall record, in the first round at the MSU Dome for the final game of the night this past Thursday.
The Lions, led by the 6’3” guard tandem of returning All-State selection Ben Bohl and Mason Hedberg, nearly dethroned defending Class B champion Hillsboro-Central Valley in last year’s tournament in Bismarck, taking HCV to overtime before falling on a last-second three-pointer, 73-71, for a repeat title for the Burros.
Traveling just around 120 miles to Minot, NR-S will have the task of facing an opponent in Bishop Ryan that merely needs to cross the street to the west to bring their sizable hometown contingent to the Dome. The Lions’ campus is adjacent to MSU and Highway 83 in north Minot.
Other first round games pitted second-seeded Bismarck Shiloh Christian (21-3) against Beulah (19-4), while #3 seed Richland (21-2) took on Powers Lake (20-5), making their first state tourney appearance since 1939, in the afternoon bracket.
The NR-S/Bishop Ryan winner would face the victor between top-seeded Thompson, at 23-1, versus Region 3 champion Ellendale (15-10), in the first part of the night session.
Making their first-ever State B appearance in boys’ basketball, the Tommies aim to earn the school’s third team crown of the calendar year, while the Cardinals sprang a 56-47 upset over Carrington for their second berth at the “B” in three years following a 32-year drought.
