District 7 Semifinals: Rockets overwhelm Wildcats

The first half was quite close but New Rockford-Sheyenne picked it up defensively, in the second half as the locals cruised to a 66-37 win over Benson County in semifinal round action of the District 7 Boys Basketball Tournament played at Devils Lake, on Feb. 29.

Benson County was the number two seed coming into this tourney and early last month they defeated the locals by two points. In this game, a trey by Chase Benson gave the Wildcats an 8-5 lead about half-way through the first quarter. Two free throws by Johnny Grann put the locals up 9-8 with 2:26 to go. A bucket by Hunter Thompson as time expired put the Rockets up 15-13 after one stanza. Two free throws by Bo Belquist gave the Rockets a 23-13 lead with 6:23 left until halftime. A bucket by Benson cut the lead to 28-19 with 3:37 left until the intermission. A trey by the Wildcats Cole Wentz with 0:28 left rounded out the quarter scoring and the locals led 33-23 at halftime.

New Rockford- Sheyenne went on a big 17-5 to go up 50-28 on a basket by Thompson, with 2:29 left in the third. It was 55-30 Rockets after three quarters. The locals held an 11-7 scoring advantage in the fourth and again New Rockford- Sheyenne came away with a convincing 66-37 win. Chase Benson paced Benson County with 14 points. Hunter Thompson led the Rockets with a game-high 18 points. Bo Belquist added 17 points and Evan Ulrich had 13.

The Wildcats made 14 field goals, only 3-13 free throws and committed 14 fouls. New Rockford- Sheyenne made 23 field goals, 13-20 free throws and committed 16 fouls. Benson County is a much-improved team this year with a new head coach. New Rockford- Sheyenne is now 15-6 overall.

NR-S: 15 18 22 11 = 66

BC: 13 10 7 7 = 37

NR-S: Johnny Grann 8, Nathan Holzwarth 5, Nick Berglund 3, Nick Presnell 2. Three-pointers: Thompson 2, Grann 2, Belquist, Holzwarth, Ulrich.

BC: Carter Tandeski 9, Blayne Anderson 6, Kadin Neppl 5, Cole Wentz 3.

Three-pointers: Benson 4, Neppl, Anderson.