Lady Rockets on a roll

The New Rockford-Sheyenne Rockets hosted their first Super Region 4 competitor on Friday, Jan. 13: The Benson County Wildcats.

Since the Wildcats had lost key players Quinn Neppl, Desidy Schwanke, Hailey Maddock and Ashlyn Williams due to graduating, the Rockets hoped to finally dominate the court over the Wildcats.

But shockingly the Wildcats weren't going to give up that fight easily.

A key player for the Wildcats was Benson County eighth grader, Kaitlyn Maddock. Maddock scored the most points for the Wildcats with 21 in total.

Over half of the 21 points by Maddock came in the first quarter against the Rockets. At the half, the Wildcats held a 2-point lead over New Rockford-Sheyenne.

But the second half of the game is where Rockets' fans saw most of the work being put in.

Kelsie Belquist was able to secure a total of 12 points in the second half, along with Kaiya O'Connor who scored 10. With these two big scorers in the second quarter, the Rockets were able to overcome the Wildcats 53-47.

This was a huge win for the Rockets, being they haven't been able to beat the Wildcats since the 2021 basketball season.

Belquist led the Rockets in points with a total of 22 overall. O'Connor and Ava Peterson also scored in double digits with 13 and 10, respectively.

As for the Wildcats, Maddock held the most points with 21. Also scoring in double digits for the Wildcats was Aubrey Kenner with 10.

Super Region 4 Girls' Basketball

NR-S 53, BC 47

Friday, Jan. 14

in New Rockford

NR-S: 14 11 13 15 - 53

BC: 12 15 9 11 - 47

NR-S: Kelsie Belquist 22, Kaiya O'Connor 13, Ava Peterson 10, Madisen Myhre 2, Lora Wobbema 2, Addysen Fandrich 2. Totals: 21 FG, 9-16 FT, 13 fouls. 3-pointers: O'Connor 2.

Benson County: Kaitlyn Maddock 21, Aubrey Kenner 10, Isabella Engstrom 6, Lacie Fautsch 4, Ella Fossen 2, Kaylee Knatterud 2, Haley Scevers 2. Totals: 19 FG, 8-10 FT, 14 fouls. Fouled out: Fossen. 3-pointer: Maddock 1.

Junior Varsity

NR-S 34, BC 25

Junior High

NR-S 29, BC 14

Saturday Class B Day vs. Thunder

Following Friday's game, the Rockets traveled to Devils Lake on Saturday, Jan. 14 to compete in the annual Class B Day against the Hatton/Northwood Thunder.

The Rockets knew this would be a tough game, as the Thunders' current record was 9-2.

But the Rockets were still amped up from their win the previous night, which seemed to work in their favor.

With drives to the basket by Belquist and a huge 3-pointer shot by Kennison Azure, the Rockets and Thunder were tied at 10 after the first quarter.

The second quarter is where Rockets' fans saw more of Peterson shooting. Peterson scored nine points in the second quarter, to outscore the Thunder by one. At the half, the Rockets led 24-23.

The third quarter was quite slow and steady for both the Rockets and Thunder. Belquist swished a 3-pointer and was found at the line shooting 3-of-6 free-throws. Azure put in three more field goals for the Thunder, but were still down two points after the third.

Three-pointers were huge in the fourth quarter for the Thunder. Between MaKenna Gader, Amara Howsen and Stella Sehrt, the Thunder swished five 3-pointers. This kept Rocket fans on their toes.

But the Rockets answered back with their own 3-pointers, two from O'Connor and one from Peterson.

With less than 25 seconds on the clock and a possession in favor of the Rockets, the score was tied at 56-56. Belquist dribbled the ball at the top of the key up until there was only 10 seconds left on the clock and decided it was time to drive to the basket. Belquist was then fouled and sent to the line.

Swish went the first shot. Fans could hear a pin drop in the gym for how quiet it was. The second one swished. The Rockets were now ahead by two with six seconds on the clock.

A foul by Peterson. Two seconds remain. With no attempt at a shot by the Thunder, the Rockets walked away from Class B Day with a 58-56 win over Hatton/Northwood.

Top scorers for the Rockets were Peterson with 25, Belquist with 20 and O'Connor with 11.

Azure and Sehrt led the Thunder, with 16 and 15, respectively.

Class B Day Girls' Basketball

NR-S 58, H/N 56

Saturday, Jan. 14

at Devils Lake

NR-S: 10 14 12 22 - 58

H/N: 10 13 11 22 - 56

NR-S: Ava Peterson 25, Kelsie Belquist 20, Kaiya O'Connor 11, Lora Wobbema 2. Totals: 21 FG, 11-17 FT, 9 fouls. 3-pointers: O'Connor 3, Belquist 1, Peterson 1.

Hatton/Northwood: Kennison Azure 16, Stella Sehrt 15, Elizabeth Pinke 8, MaKenna Gader 6, Amara Howson 6, Trista Bilden 5. Totals: 22 FG, 5-10 FT, 13 fouls. Fouled out: Gader. 3-pointers: Gader 2, Howson 2, Sehrt 2, Azure 1.

On the road Tuesday vs. Indians

The New Rockford-Sheyenne Rockets set off for Fort Totten on Tuesday, Jan. 17 to compete in yet another Super Region 4 matchup.

Over the past six years, the Rockets have been unable to defeat the Lady Indians. The 2016-2017 basketball season was the last time the Rockets were able to walk away victorious.

The Lady Indians have always been a tough region opponent. And they definitely showed they weren't going to give up a win easily.

Out of the gates, FW/M senior Allionna Lawrence swished a 3-pointer followed by Suri Gourd with another.

But Kaiya O'Connor answered back with a deep 3-pointer for the Rockets. At the end of the first, the Lady Indians led 12-7.

The second quarter brought more 3-pointers for both the Lady Indians and the Rockets, with one from O'Connor, one from Lawrence and one from Natalia Littleghost. At the half, the Rockets were down 16-24.

The Rockets came out in the second half with a different momentum than what they started with.

With more pressure on defense and less errors getting the ball to the basket, the Rockets kept the Lady Indians scoring down in the third quarter. At the end of the third, the Rockets now held a 7-point lead over the Lady Indians.

But of course, Lawrence had to come back in the fourth quarter with some huge shots from beyond the arc, to add six points to the Lady Indians score. But with O'Connor's 3-point shot and 6-of-8 free throw shots made, the Rockets had officially defeated the Lady Indians.

Lead scorers for the Rockets were Ava Peterson with 13, O'Conor with 11 and Kelsie Belquist with 10.

As for the Lady Indians, Lawrence was the lone player to score in double digits with 18.

The Rockets hosted the Nelson County Chargers on Thursday, Jan. 19 and will travel to Warwick on Monday, Jan. 23 to take on the Lady Warriors (A,B,JH) starting at 4:30 p.m. Both of these Super Region 4 games will be covered in the January 30 edition.

Super Region 4 Girls' Basketball

NR-S 44, FW/M 37

Tuesday, Jan. 17

at Fort Totten

NR-S: 7 9 15 13 - 44

FW/M: 12 12 0 13 - 37

NR-S: Ava Peterson 13, Kaiya O'Connor 11, Kelsie Belquist 10, Lora Wobbema 5, Madisen Myhre 1, Katie Allmaras 1. Totals: 14 FG, 12-18 FT, 9 fouls. 3-pointers: O'Connor 3, Peterson 1.

FW/M: Allionna Lawrence 18, Suri Gourd 6, Cailee Hanson 4, Natalia Littleghost 3, Hannah Fassett 2, Ava Gourd 2, Sophie Robertson 2. Totals: 13 FG, 5-6 FT, 19 fouls. 3-pointers: Lawrence 4, Littleghost 1, S. Gourd 1.

Junior Varsity

NR-S 25, FW/M 55

Junior High

NR-S 27, FW/M 46