Rockets couldn't round up Nelson County Chargers

The New Rockford-Sheyenne Rockets hosted the Region 4, District 7 competitors, the Nelson County Chargers, on Monday, Jan. 10. The Rockets came up short, losing 44-50.

The first quarter started out at a fast pace. The Nelson County girls' basketball team has always been speedy, so the Rockets had to step up their pace to keep up.

Nora Johnson and Marit Ellingson of the Chargers each drained a three-pointer in the first quarter, to assist in an eight-point lead over the Rockets.

This game was made up of many turnovers. Kelsie Belquist, Kennedy Demester and Kaiya O'Connor were three of the Rocket athletes who were able to get a turnover and breakaway for the basket.

The second quarter went much better than the first. Demester was able to take a shot from the three-point-line to score, along with a field-goal shot. Ava Peterson drove to the basket to make a field goal and was sent to the line not once, but twice to put in all three free-throws.

Paytan Lippert and Ellingson put in a three-pointer each to keep a five-point lead.

Third quarter. This is where O'Connor began to shine. Why you may ask? O'Connor is not one to normally shoot, as she is one of the few point guards for the Rockets and tries to set up a play for another teammate to make a shot.

This game was a different story. With every open opportunity, O'Connor was shooting. In the third quarter, she was able to put in a shot from the three-point line and she also drove to the basket to make a field goal. Along with O'Connor, Demester put in her second three-pointer of the night.

But two three-pointers from Johnson was enough to keep a ten-point lead for the Chargers.

O'Connor came back in the fourth quarter to put in yet another three-pointer. The fourth quarter consisted of many fouls. Mya Cudworth, Demester and Belquist were consistently being sent to the free-throw line. The Rockets averaged 52 percent at the line, making 14 out of 27 free-throws.

The Rockets came within three points of catching the Chargers, until Ellingson put up another three-pointer and field goal, along with two field goals from Johnson.

Demester and O'Connor were the lead scorers for the Rockets, with Demester scoring 14 and O'Connor scoring 10.

Johnson was the lead scoer for the Chargers with 16, and Ellingson followed with 15.

The junior varsity, eighth grade and seventh grade teams didn't come out victorious either against the Chargers. The Rockets junior varsity team lost 38-52, the eighth grade team lost 12-36, and the seventh grade team lost 7-32.

The Rockets (0-1, 3-1, 5-4) currently sit fourth in the district behind Benson County, Nelson County and Four Winds/Minnewaukan.

Let's take a look at next week's schedule for the girls. On Tuesday, Jan. 18, the Rockets will travel to Cavalier (A,B) to take on the Tornadoes, starting with junior varsity at 4:30 p.m. On Friday, Jan. 21, the Rockets will travel 38 miles northwest to take on the Benson County Wildcats (A,B,JH) in Maddock starting at 4:30 p.m.

Region 4, District 7

Girls' Basketball

NR-S 44, Nelson Co. 50

NR-S 6 12 11 15 - 44

NC 14 9 16 11 - 50

NR-S: Kennedy Demester 14, Kaiya O'Connor 10, Kelsie Belquist 8, Mya Cudworth 7, Ava Peterson 5. Totals: 9 FG, 14-27 FT, 12 fouls. Three-pointers: O'Connor 2, Demester 2.

Nelson County: Nora Johnson 16, Marit Ellingson 15, Hollie Emory 7, Paytan Lippert 7, Krista Lippert 3, Rylan Parsley 2. Totals: 12 FG, 5-11 FT, 21 fouls. Three-pointers: Ellingson 3, Johnson 3, P. Lippert 1. Fouled out: Sydnee Johnston, Emory.

Junior Varsity

NR-S 38, Nelson Co. 52

NR-S 16 12 3 7 - 38

NC 10 18 12 12 - 52

NR-S: Ava Peterson 11, Kelsie Belquist 9, Lora Wobbema 7, Kaiya O'Connor 4, Addysen Fandrich 4, Emmie Belquist 3, Tillie Swart 1. Totals: 16 FG, 7-21 FT, 11 fouls.

Nelson County: Nevaeh Huso 13, Sydnee Johnston 7, Brooke Watkins 6, Jordan Johnson 5, Brandi Lippert 5, Jessie Monsebroten 4, Faith Shirek 4, Madysen Blasey 4, Lydia Stein 2, Riley Lippert 2. Totals: 14 FG, 9-17 FT, 18 fouls. Three-pointers: Huso 2, Watkins 2, Johnson 1.

8th Grade

NR-S 12, Nelson Co. 36

NR-S 4 0 6 2 - 12

NC 9 9 8 10 - 36

NR-S: Emmie Belquist 6, Kaci Weisenburger 2, Logan Cudworth 2, Bailey Baumbach 2. Totals: 6 FG, 0-1 FT, 11 fouls.

Nelson County: Rylee Flaagan 10, Bailey Flaagan 9, Olivia Fossen 9, Izibelle Haugen 2, Jassy Lee 2, Sophia Beck 2, Brandi Schock 2. Totals: 15 FG, 6-11 FT, 5 fouls.

7th Grade

NR-S 7, Nelson Co. 32

NR-S 1 0 4 2 - 7

NC 10 6 6 10 - 32

NR-S: Madison Hultgren 3, Camebria Engels 2, Jaida Schumacher 2. Totals: 3 FG, 1-2 FT, 5 fouls.

Nelson County: Dagan Slade 18, Mya Luehring 10, Emma Schultes 2, Laura Steffan 2. Totals: 15 FG, 2-4 FT, 9 fouls.