Griggs-Midkota Titans conquer Rockets, 48-46

 Unlike the night before where the New Rockford-Sheyenne girls took down the Griggs-Midkota Lady Titans 75-29, the matchup of the NR-S boys' basketball team and the Griggs-Midkota boys' basketball team was more of a nailbiter.

 Like a flash of lightning, they were off. A 3-pointer swished by Brady Haugen for the Titans. Just seconds later, another 3-pointer swished, this time by Griggs-Midkota senior, Benjamin Edland.

 The Titans scored many points from beyond the arc throughout the game.

 As for the Rockets, many points were scored underneath the basket, mainly by NR-S sophomore, Bennett Meier.

 With Meier's older brother Haydon out due to a leg injury that occurred during football season, Bennett had to step up and take Haydon's place on the court. And just within these first few games, B. Meier has made his presence known on the court. Just in the first quarter, B. Meier scored eight points for the Rockets.

 The Titans led the Rockets 12-9 at the end of the first quarter.

 The Titans capsized on points in the second quarter. Haugen was found behind the arc, yet again, swishing two more 3-pointers. Also adding 3-pointers to the stats were Wyatt Spickler and Carter Spitzer, who each swished one from behind the arc. These boys' shots were on and they weren't shutting down anytime soon.

 Meier drove to the basket to score a field goal, which led to a foul where he swished a free-throw. But the Rockets' 10 points in the second quarter were no match for the Titans' 18. At the half, the Rockets were down 19-30.

 Would the Rockets come back fighting after halftime, or would the Titans continue to dominate the court?

 NR-S junior, Lucas Yri, was a key player for the Rockets in the third quarter. If he wasn't found stealing the ball from the hands of his opponent, he was found shooting baskets. Yri scored seven of the 17 points scored by the Rockets in the third quarter.

 The Titans scored their seventh 3-pointer in the third quarter by Griggs-Midkota senior Eli Larson. The Titans were only able to score 13 points in the third, which meant the Rockets were only down by seven points.

 The final quarter. Who will win?

 Meier puts up two, adding four points to the Rockets' score. A 3-pointer secured by NR-S freshman, Easton Simon.

 But a technical foul by Porter Granger would send Spitzer to the line to shoot for two free-throws.

 46-48, Rockets possession. A drive to the basket by Meier, the shot goes up but falls short. Only five seconds left on the clock, Titans possession. Rockets' fans could hear the NR-S head coach yelling "Deny! Deny! Deny!"

 With a swat to the ball by Trevor Waldo, the Rockets had one last chance to swipe the ball and score a shot with only a second left on the clock.

 But with a successful pass to Haugen, the Titans held off the Rockets, taking the 48-46 win.

 Scoring in double digits for the Titans were Larson with 15 and Haugen with 13.

 Lead scorer for the Rockets was Meier with 15.

 The Rockets' B-squad, C-squad and seventh grade teams were all victorious over the Titans. The eighth grade team, however, fell two points short to the Titans.

 The Rockets will host the Central Cass Squirrels (A,B,C) on Tuesday, Dec. 27 starting at 12 p.m. The Titans will travel to Oakes on Jan. 3 to take on the Tornadoes (A,B,C) starting at 4:30 p.m.

Non-Region

Boys' Basketball

NR-S 46, G-M 48

Tuesday, Dec. 20

at Glenfield

NR-S: 9 10 17 10 - 46

G-M: 12 18 13 5 - 48

 NR-S: Bennett Meier 15, Lucas Yri 9, Easton Simon 9, DJ Mudgett 7, Trevor Waldo 6. Totals: 18 FG, 9-18 FT, 14 fouls. Technical foul: Porter Granger. 3-pointer: Simon 1.

 Griggs-Midkota: Eli Larson 15, Brady Haugen 13, Wyatt Spickler 7, Carter Spitzer 4, James Woodstead 4, Benjamin Edland 3, Kyle Johnson 2. Totals: 17 FG, 7-8 FT, 17 fouls. 3-pointers: Haugen 3, Larson 1, Wy. Spickler 1, Spitzer 1, Edland 1.

B-Squad

NR-S 63, G-M 46

NR-S: 24 14 13 12 - 63

G-M: 10 16 6 12 - 46

 NR-S: Porter Granger 13, Kailar Jacobson 9, Shaun Reimche 8, Alex Weisenburger 8, Easton Simon 8, Zach Dockter 4, Easton Benz 4, Kage Walford 4, Connor Knatterud 3, Keaton Cudworth 2. Totals: 26 FG, 6-7 FT, 14 fouls. 3-pointers: Granger 3, Simon 1, Knatterud 1.

 Griggs-Midkota: Will Spickler 12, Woodstead 7, Isaac Stadler 6, Wyatt Hoyt 6, Bryce Utke 4, Johnson 3, Jarin Monson 3, Kindle Carlson 2, Cole Vincent 1. Totals: 15 FG, 11-21 FT, 11 fouls. 3-pointers: Wi. Spickler 1, Johnson 1, Monson 1.

C-Squad

NR-S 43, G-M 25

NR-S: 9 15 6 13 - 43

G-M: 5 4 9 7 - 25

 NR-S: Reimche 20, Dockter 9, Dashyl Bichler 8, Bradyn Collier 6. Totals: 18 FG, 6-15 FT, 16 fouls. Fouled out: Reimche. 3-pointer: Dockter 1.

 Griggs-Midkota: Vincent 11, Rori Kautzman 5, Colton Walker 3, Wayland Sabinash 2, Nathan Short 2, Mason Dramstad 2. Totals: 11 FG, 0-4 FT, 13 fouls. 3-pointers: Vincent 1, Kautzman 1, Walker 1.

8th Grade

NR-S 30, G-M 32

7th Grade

NR-S 45, G-M 25