Berthold too much for Pirates
The Lewis & Clark-Berthold Bombers held Kidder County scoreless for 4 minutes, 21 seconds in the second period during a 12-0 run, and coasted to a 63-47 victory over the Pirates in the semifinals of the state Class B tournament on Friday.By: Michael Savaloja, The Jamestown Sun
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MINOT — The Lewis & Clark-Berthold Bombers held Kidder County scoreless for 4 minutes, 21 seconds in the second period during a 12-0 run, and coasted to a 63-47 victory over the Pirates in the semifinals of the state Class B tournament on Friday.
“Hustle plays. A steal here and there and offensive put backs,” LC-Berthold coach Brock Teets said of his team’s game-changing run. “We just feed off that energy and feed off each other.”
A host of players got into the action in the first half, but nobody shined brighter for the Bombers than 6-foot-3 sophomore center Daniel Yale. Yale led LC-Berthold with 17 points and racked up 6 of his 10 rebounds before the end of the first half.
The Bombers led 35-19 going into the locker room.
“He’s so explosive off the rim,” Teets said. “When Danny’s focused he’s a beast down there.”
“I don’t think we anticipated the rebounding power of (Yale),” Kidder County coach Paul Olson said. “We wanted them to beat us deep and they didn’t beat us deep. They beat us by offensive rebounds and put backs.”
Yale also drew the assignment of guarding Kidder County’s 6-4, all-state senior guard Adam Randall. The sophomore rose to the occasion, limiting Randall to 6 points in the first two periods.
“Adam Randall is a great basketball player and being able to guard him was an honor,” Yale said. “I was happy I could help the team out.”
Randall scored just a single free throw in the second, but ended the contest with a game-high 22 points after hitting 3 three-pointers in the second half.
The all-stater, however, hit just 7 of 24 total shots from the field.
“(Randall) struggled shooting the ball early on,” Olson said. “When he struggles, we struggle.”
“(Daniel) did everything for us tonight. He guarded one of the best players in the state and did a good job on him,” Teets said. “He’s energized right now and has been a star for us these last two games.”
Yale posted 23 points in Thursday’s 91-82 double overtime victory over Fargo Oak Grove.
The Bombers dominated the glass all evening, outrebounding Kidder County 40-29, with 13 of those coming on the offensive end. The Pirates also struggled to find the hoop, converting just 15 of 53 shots from the floor for 28 percent.
“It’s a hard game win you’re shooting 19 percent at halftime,” Olson said. “They murdered us on the boards in the first half. We did better in the second half, but it just wasn’t meant to be.”
LC-Berthold’s senior Matt Yale, Daniel’s brother, came flying into the semifinal against the Pirates, after posting a triple double (30 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists) a day earlier against the Grovers. Matt Yale ended the game with 13 points and 11 rebounds, while Michael White and Lyndon Bloms also hit double figures for the Bombers with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
White, one of LC-Berthold’s 10 seniors, suffered a blow to the head while falling to the floor attempting to block an Oak Grove shot in the quarterfinals, forcing him out of that game.
“I think Michael White sparked us tonight. I honestly didn’t think he’d play,” Teets said. “But the doctor checked him out and said he was fine, and he said he was fine throughout the game.”
The Bombers finished last year’s state tournament with an eighth-place finish and will now face Carrington tonight for a shot at a state championship.
“This is what these kids have been working for since they were 5 years old,” Teets said. “Our motto this season has been ‘play for each other’ and that’s what they’ve done. They appreciate what each other does.”
Kidder County will take on Cavalier for third at 6 p.m. tonight.
State Class B Boys’ Basketball Tournament
At Minot State University Dome
Semifinals
Lewis & Clark-Berthold 63, Kidder County 47
LC-Berthold 18 35 47 63
Kidder Co. 12 19 32 47
Lewis & Clark-Berthold — Daniel Yale 17, Matt Yale 13, Michael White 11, Lyndon Bloms 10, Joshua Brown 5, Tyler Birdsall 3, Taylor Langan 2, Clinton Axelson 2. Totals: 25-47 FG, 9-15 FT, 14 turnovers, 40 rebounds (M. Yale 11, D. Yale 10), 11 assists (M. Yale 5), 18 fouls. Three-pointers: Bloms 2, Brown 1, White 1.
Kidder County — Adam Randall 22, Mike Kalianoff 10, Wesley Nicholson 6, Norman Nicholson 5, Jake Miller 4. Totals: 15-53 FG, 12-17 FT, 10 turnovers, 29 rebounds (Kalianoff 9, Randall 8), 7 assists (Cody Wahl 2, Randall 2), 18 fouls (Kalianoff). Three-pointers: Randall 3, W. Nicholson 2.
Records: Lewis & Clark-Berthold 26-1; Kidder County 20-6.
Sun sports writer Michael Savaloja can be reached at (701) 952-8461 or by email at mikes@jamestownsun.com
Tags: class b, kidder county, sports, basketball
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