After ejection, Mustangs rally to victory

• Coaches vs. Cancer Shootout

(John M. Steiner / The Sun) Midkota’s Callie Harding (41) dribbles against Kindred’s Emily Cose during their game at the Coaches vs. Cancer Shootout, hosted by Barnes County North on Saturday at the Civic Center.

Talk about it

A physical basketball game between two teams receiving state recognition boiled over late in the first half at the Jamestown Civic Center on Saturday.

Midkota girls basketball coach Kyle Frappier was ejected from the arena with 1 minute, 20 seconds remaining in the second period, as his Mustangs trailed the No. 10-ranked Kindred Vikings 24-21 during the Coaches vs. Cancer Basketball Jamboree hosted by Barnes County North.

Frappier was assessed back-to-back technical fouls and was shown the exit by official Trev Zerr, after voicing his displeasure to Zerr about a foul call. Midkota assistant coach Jason Otto took over the clipboard and led the Mustangs to a second-half comeback with a 54-49 victory over Kindred.

“Coach was just sticking up for the kids,” Otto said. “I’m sure he would have done it a little differently if he could go back, but that’s what happens.”

Both teams entered the Civic Center reeling from losses suffered earlier in the week. Midkota, who received votes in last week’s state Class B girls basketball poll, fell on the road to the defending Region 4 champions Lakota/Adams-Edmore 62-38 on Thursday.

Kindred (7-4) was playing for the second time in less than 24 hours after falling to Central Cass 60-54 in Kindred on Friday. Back-to-back physical games appeared to take its toll on the team, which was evident in the fourth period.

Trailing 40-33 to start the final 8 minutes, Kindred went just 1-for-6 from 3-point land in the fourth as the Vikings were unsuccessful at shooting their way back into it. The Vikings only had 1 turnover in the fourth, but committed 27 total in the game.

“I don’t want to make excuses, but I think our legs were a little tired. Our outside shots, we just weren’t knocking many down, especially in the second half,” Kindred coach Perry Piatz said. “I told the girls I was very happy with our effort that we put forth the last two games, but we’re not playing very smart at times.

“Turning the ball over too much against good teams is going to kill us.”

Junior Shaye Ronningen poured in a game-high 25 points to lead the Mustangs to their sixth win of the season (6-3). Ronningen scored 8 of those points in the first period to help Midkota forge ahead 15-8 after the one.

But Midkota struggled mightily with Kindred’s full-court pressure defense in the second period. Midkota tossed the ball away 8 times and converted just 3 field goals in the second, while Kindred’s Casey Allmaras and Brooke Graff each knocked down a trey to help the Vikings lead 27-23 at the break.

Senior forward Kellie Schmit led the Vikings offensively with 13 points.

“They’re an aggressive team and they play good defense,” Otto said. “We had to make sure that when we came out on offense and were trying to get through their press that we didn’t stand around and wait for things to happen.

“We had to make things happen, and the girls did a good job of that (in the second half).”

In the third it was the Vikings sinking just 3 field goals, while Midkota went on to outscore Kindred 17-6 in the period and take a 40-33 lead into the final quarter of play.

“The girls really stepped up, and that’s how you’d hope they’d respond after a tough loss like we had up north,” Otto said. “That was a physical team and we came in here tonight and this was a physical matchup, and it was good for our girls.”

Coaches vs. Cancer Basketball Jamboree

At Jamestown Civic Center

Saturday

Girls

Midkota 54, Kindred 49

Midkota 15 23 40 54

Kindred 8 27 33 49

Midkota — Shaye Ronningen 25, Emily Berge 9, Saddie Harding 9, Callie Harding 7, Brooke Ronningen 4. Totals: 20-37 FG, 12-20 FT, 17 fouls, 16 turnovers. 3-pointers: (2-6) S. Harding 1, C. Harding 1.

Kindred — Kellie Schmit 13, Casey Allmaras 11, Alexandra Erickson 11, Brooke Graff 8, Alexis Piatz 4, Emily Cose 2. Totals: 19-50 FG, 6-11 FT, 19 fouls, 27 turnovers. 3-pointers: (5-18) Allmaras 2, Graff 2, Erickson1.

Records: Midkota 6-3; Kindred 7-4.

Sun sports writer Michael Savaloja can be reached at 701-952-8461 or by email at msavaloja@jamestownsun.com

Tags: sports, basketball