Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Rockets fall to Loboes in state play-in
Luke Yri dribbles around LaMoure-Litchville/Marion defenders during the state play-in game on Saturday, March 9.
Rocket fans donned their best red, white and blue apparel for the state play-in game on Saturday, March 9.
NR-S senior Ashton Reimche puts up a shot around the hands of a Loboes' defender.
Kage Walford jumps up to attempt a shot from beyond the arc.
NR-S sophomore Easton Simon takes a shot from the free-throw line. Simon went 12-for-13 at the line, along with scoring 10 other points from the field.
After a long, up-and-down season, the New Rockford-Sheyenne Rockets' run has come to an end.
After taking third place at the region tournament in Devils Lake, the Rockets had qualified for a state play-in game on Saturday, March 9 in Fargo.
Their opponents were the LaMoure-Litchville/Marion Loboes, a team out of Region 1, District 2 that had finished runner-up in their region tournament.
On paper, the Loboes were favorites to qualify for state against NR-S, and unfortunately for the Rockets, the Loboes certainly looked like the favorites after a particularly strong first quarter on Saturday.
NR-S senior Ashton Reimche puts up a shot around the hands of a Loboes' defender.
In the first eight minutes they scored 18 points, with junior Brayan Karlgaard and senior Max Musland leading the way offensively. The two combined to score 16 of their team's 18 first-quarter points, 12 of which came from beyond the arc.
By comparison, the Rockets only managed to start the game with seven points on just three field goals, giving L-L/M a comfortable margin.
Unfortunately for NR-S, the Loboes' early lead would prove to be difficult to overcome.
The Rockets' offense picked it up in the second quarter, but it wasn't quite enough to make up for their poor start.
The second quarter saw L-L/M add 12 points to their total, while the Rockets managed to score 14, bringing the halftime score to 21-30.
Rocket fans donned their best red, white and blue apparel for the state play-in game on Saturday, March 9.
In the second half the NR-S defense managed to stiffen up, only allowing the Loboes to score nine points in the third quarter, and 11 in the fourth.
Their offense, however, wasn't quite as efficient as it needed to be.
With just a single basket and a few free-throws, the Rockets only managed six points in the third quarter, and added just 11 more in the fourth.
Kage Walford jumps up to attempt a shot from beyond the arc.
The final score was 38-50 in the Loboes' favor, sending L-L/M to the state tournament and ending the Rockets' season a little earlier than hoped.
Still, the 2023-24 season was undoubtedly a strong one for the Rockets.
Their 13-13 overall record and near-state tournament appearance stands in stark contrast to the previous season, when they managed just four wins and saw zero postseason success.
It's a sign of a maturing, more experienced roster, which will once again have many returning players next year who'll be hungry to make it at least one step further.
NR-S sophomore Easton Simon takes a shot from the free-throw line. Simon went 12-for-13 at the line, along with scoring 10 other points from the field.
State Play-In
Boys' Basketball
NR-S 38, L-L/M 50
Saturday, March 9
in Fargo
NR-S: 7 14 6 11 - 38
L-L/M: 18 12 9 11 - 50
NR-S: Easton Simon 23, Bennett Meier 10, Kailar Jacobson 3, Ashton Reimche 2, Luke Yri 1. Totals: 10 FG, 14-17 FT, 13 fouls. 3-pointers: Meier 2, Simon 2.
L-L/M: Max Musland 14, Blase Isaacson 10, Gunner Thielges 10, Brayan Karlgaard 8, Owen Lesko 6, Wyatt Miller 2. Totals: 20 FG, 5-8 FT, 12 fouls. 3-pointers: Isaacson 3, Musland 2, Karlgaard 2.
