Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Ain't nothing gonna break his stride. Malaki Kukowski, a.k.a. the Rocket, showed off his best dance moves before the start of the varsity game on Monday, Feb. 21.
NR-S senior Nick Berglund pushes through Bearcats' guards Karsen Simon (0) and Drew Nicholas (10). Berglund scored a total of 17 total points, being the only Rockets' player to score in double digits.
The NR-S boys' basketball seniors were announced at the end of the junior varsity game against the North Star Bearcats on Monday, Feb. 21. Above, Koby Duda hugs his step-mother Tracy Duda.
Luke Yri takes a shot a the three-point line.
Jorden Boehm (22) fights to keep the ball away from North Star opponents Karsen Simon (behind Boehm), Dane Hagler (front right) and Parker Simon (behind Hagler).
On Monday, Feb. 21, New Rockford-Sheyenne wrapped up their regular season with an anti-climactic 49-34 loss to the North Star Bearcats at home.
Despite what the final score suggests, Monday's contest was one of the Rockets' strongest performances this season... at least, for three quarters it was.
The Bearcats came to New Rockford as heavy favorites, having earned a 15-3 overall record and the reputation of a top team in Region 4. The Rockets didn't seem to care.
The first quarter set the tone for what would be an unexpectedly close game, as both Nick Berglund and Haydon Meier shot with accuracy, aided by strong passing from their teammates. The lead traded hands several times before North Star managed a small 12-10 advantage before the second quarter.
The Bearcats and their fans seemed surprised with how competitive the game was turning out, and it only got closer from there. That being said, they also had a reason to celebrate, as Bearcats' sophomore Dane Hagler scored his 1,000th career point just before the buzzer.
The second quarter saw the lead continue to bounce back and forth, with neither team capable of consistent offense. On both sides, shots were blocked and passing lanes were jumped, leading to a relatively low-scoring, but intense, battle.
The Bearcats managed another 2-point lead going into halftime, but leads in this game were short lived. In the opening minutes of the third quarter, Berglund sank a 3-pointer and a quick layup consecutively, only to see that lead vanish a minute later.
By the end of the third quarter, North Star was hanging by a thread, just one point ahead of their opponents. That's when the Rockets' plans began to unravel.
NR-S had ended the third quarter with two consecutive turnovers, and after a couple more to start the fourth, it was clear what was about to happen. Turnover after turnover soon followed, and the Bearcats wasted no time capitalizing. Within minutes, North Star had a 6-point lead, and it only grew down the stretch.
What was mostly a close game steadily transformed into a late blowout, and when the dust settled, the Rockets found themselves defeated by double digits. Turnovers have been the bane of the Rockets' existence this season, no time more so than Monday night.
The Rockets tried to place this game on the back burner as they took on District 7 competitors at the District tournament in Devils Lake on Feb. 25, 26 and 28.
Meanwhile, Monday was junior varsity's last game of the season. They entered the game having won the vast majority of their recent games, but couldn't quite come away with another win to bookend their season.
The final score was much closer than their varsity teammates would later endure, but their inability to stop North Star's Chas Bisbee led to a 61-54 defeat.
Region 4, Non District
Boys' Basketball
Monday, Feb. 21
NR-S 49, North Star 34
at New Rockford
NR-S 10 9 11 4 - 34
NS 12 9 10 18 - 49
NR-S: Nick Berglund 17, Haydon Meier 8, DJ Mudgett 5, Kaden Jensen 4. Totals: 13 FG, 5-8 FT, 13 fouls. 3-pointer: Berglund 1.
North Star: Dane Hagler 20, Drew Nicholas 13, Brett Dilley Jr. 10, Parker Simon 5, Hunter Hagler 1. Totals: 16 FG, 10-15 FT, 12 fouls. 3-pointers: Nichols 3, D. Hagler 2.
Junior Varsity
NR-S 54, NS 61
NR-S 17 8 14 15 - 53
NS 20 11 20 10 - 61
NR-S: Porter Granger 10, DJ Mudgett 10, Easton Simon 8, Alex Weisenburger 8, Easton Benz 7, Brody Weisenburger 6, Kendrick Hopfauf 4, Luke Yri 3, Kage Walford 3, Bennett Meier 2. Totals: 21 FG, 6-9 FT, 19 fouls. 3-pointers: B. Weisenburger 2, Yri 1, Granger 1, Hopfauf 1, Walford 1.
North Star: Chas Bisbee 21, Brett Dilley Jr., Hunter Hagler 9, Garrett Westlind 7, Jack Ahlberg 5, Owen Kurtti 4, Brody Svir 3, Levi Borstad 2. Totals: 24 FG, 9-13 FT, 9 fouls. 3-pointers: Bisbee 3, Ahlberg 1.
