Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
On Monday, February 27, the New Rockford-Sheyenne Rockets ended their season after falling to the Warwick Warriors in an overtime thriller.
The matchup was an all-important play-in game: the winner would go on to the regional tournament, and the losing team ended their season.
At first, the 4-15 Rockets looked well on their way to an upset over the 15-6 Warriors. Nearly eight minutes into the game, NR-S boasted a double-digit lead while holding Warwick to a measly two points for most of the first quarter.
The Warriors were shooting 3-pointer after 3-pointer, and for most of the first three quarters of Monday’s game, they were all missing.
The Rockets’ Kailar Jacobson, meanwhile, was an absolute menace under the rim, securing 15 points and stealing offensive rebounds aplenty. Bennett Meier and Easton Simon were also up to their usual tricks, leading the team with 19 and 17 points, respectively.
It was clear, however, that if Warwick ever decided to start making the constant 3-pointers they were attempting, NR-S would be in trouble.
Sure enough, in the fourth quarter the Warriors’ Elijah Feather Jr. roared to life from beyond the arc, propelling his team to a two-point lead with less than 30 seconds remaining. It was their first lead all night long.
Thankfully for the Rockets, Easton Simon intercepted a pass under his own rim, and converted a layup with just 10 seconds left in regulation, ultimately sending the game to overtime.
However, any hopes that Feather Jr. would have cooled off since the fourth quarter were soon dashed, and the Rockets eventually ended their season with a 63-72 defeat.
The loss in Warwick and a close defeat in McVille against Dakota Prairie a few days earlier brings the Rockets’ final 2023 season record to 4-16.
It wasn’t the season the Rockets were hoping for, but fans definitely caught a glimpse of what’s to come. The starting roster for Monday’s game against Warwick did not include a single junior or senior, yet nearly stole a spot in the regional tournament from the Warriors.
Keep an eye out for Easton Simon and Bennett Meier in the years to come, as well as Kailar Jacobson, who showed dominance at times under the rim.
Assuming these young players continue to grow and improve, the Rockets could certainly become a force to be reckoned with in the coming years.
Super Region 4
Boys’ Basketball
NR-S 46, Dakota Prairie 56
Friday, Feb. 24
in McVille
NR-S: 10 12 10 14 – 46
DP: 15 8 19 14 – 56
NR-S: Kailar Jacobson 12, DJ Mudgett 11, Bennett Meier 10, Easton Benz 5, Easton Simon 4, Kage Walford 3, Porter Granger 1. Totals: 19 FG, 6-12 FT, 20 fouls. 3-pointers: Walford 1, Benz 1.
Dakota Prairie: Jake Johnson 21, Caden Joramo 13, Axel Anderson 10, Landon Hemdrickson 4, Trae Lillehaugen 4, Keegan Gjovik 4. Totals: 22 FG, 5-8 FT, 17 fouls. 3-pointers: Joramo 3, Anderson 2, Johnson 2.
Super Region 4
Boys’ Basketball
NR-S 63, Warwick 72
Monday, Feb. 27
in Warwick
NR-S: 18 12 16 15 2 – 63
Warwick: 8 18 11 24 11 – 72
NR-S: Bennett Meier 19, Easton Simon 17, Kailar Jacobson 15, Kage Walford 5, Easton Benz 5, DJ Mudgett 2. Totals: 23 FG, 15-17 FT, 17 fouls. 3-pointers: Walford 1, Simon 1.
Warwick: Elijah Feather Jr. 20, Dwight Hunt 13, Marcus Joramo 11, Jason Lenoir 10, Mark Fassett Jr. 10, Dalton Joramo 9, Marcus Joramo 6. Totals: 27 FG, 8-11 FT, 15 fouls. 3-pointers: Feather Jr. 5, Hunt 2, Fassett Jr. 2, D. Joramo 1.
