Blue Jays roll past Minot

MINOT — Minot High coach Todd Magnuson could have pointed to his club's affliction at the free throw line in its 61-52 loss to Jamestown on Thursday night.

But Magnuson, whose club led the fourth-ranked Blue Jays most of the West Region contest at Magic City Campus, was more interested in tipping his cap then talking about the 39 percent (9-for-23) showing from the charity stripe.

"They've got good post players and good players to go with those posts," said Magnuston, whose team dropped to 0-3. "I knew they'd eventually find a way back and (Jamestown coach Andy) Skunberg made some nice adjustments."

Minot led the entire first half and held a 22-14 lead midway through the stanza when Loni Bryantt knocked down one of the Magicians' seven 3-pointers, but Jamestown found its touch when it mattered most.

The Blue Jays, paced by Kyra Dewald's 23 points, connected on six of seven 3-point tries in the second half. Erin Mullowney's 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer cut the Magicians’ lead to 28-25 and the momentum shifted in the visitors' favor thereafter.

Dewald connected on two of her 3s in a 12-4 run to open the second half and the Magicians wouldn't lead again.

"We lost sight of (Dewald)," Magnuson said. “Their post players did a good job of finding her.”

Early on, though, it was junior guard Jayden Moum filling it up for Minot and ultimately spearheading the Magicians' early charge.

Moum scored 11 of her team's first 16 points before twisting her ankle and finished with a team-high 14 on the night. Minot, considerably undersized, hit five 3-pointers in the first half.

"They came out pretty hot, give them credit," Skunberg said of Minot. "For some reason we're not starting out games very well but we made some adjustments in the second half and picked it up a bit."

Jamestown 61, Minot 52

Jamestown: Kyra Dewald 23, Billie Buchanan 10, Erin Mullowney 9, McKayla Orr 6, Paige Peterson 6, Miah Dabil 5, Adeline Eamon 2. Totals 21 12-13 52.

Minot: Jayden Moum 14, Andie Hanka 13, Cassie Askvig 11, Loni Bryantt 6, Sophie Bengson 5, Morgan Milbrath 3. Totals 18 9-23 52.

Halftime: Minot 28, Jamestown 25; 3-pointers Jamestown 7-14 (Mullowney 3, Dewald 3, Dabil) Minot 7-17 (Moum 3, Askvig 2, Bryantt, Bengson); Rebounds, Jamestown 30 (Orr 7), Minot 27 (Hankla 7); Assists, Jamestown 14 (Orr 6), Minot 16 (Bryantt 5); Steals, Jamestown 5 (Orr 2) Minot 8 (Hankla 3); Blocks, Jamestown 1, Minot 0; Turnovers, Jamestown 15, Minot 11; Jamestown 19, Minot 16. Fouled out none.

Tags: sports, jays, basketball