Minot rolls past Jays

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To Minot coach Dean Winczewski, Saturday’s second half was all about converting.

The fourth-ranked Magicians received plenty of good looks in the first half against Jamestown, but a 22-1 run to start the second half put them firmly in control en route to an 85-38 win in West Region play at the JHS gym.

“Just finishing,” Winczewski said of his team’s second-half goal. “I was happy with our effort in the first half. I thought we guarded really well. ... We just missed layups. We missed four or five in the first half and missed free throws.”

For Jamestown coach Kelley Kessler, it was a mixed bag. The Blue Jays trailed by eight after Alex McInnes hit a jumper with 36 seconds left in the first half. Minot’s Austin Frank drilled a 3-pointer from the right corner to send the Magi into the locker room with a 32-21 advantage.

“That was the best offensive half — as far as executing and getting the shots we wanted — we’ve had all year,” Kessler said. “Sometimes, shots fall and sometimes, they don’t. But you have to put yourself in good opportunities to do that. I think we were in the first half.”

Any momentum the first half may have given Jamestown came to a crashing halt, however, as Frank opened the third quarter with another trey, and Minot was off and running. Noah Bosh had a game-high 15 points to lead four in double figures. Jesse Andrist had 14, while Frank and Colter Hustad added 10 apiece.

“We got all kinds of great shots,” Winczewski said. “The second half, the basket was a rain barrel and good things happened.”

Minot (7-1 West Region, 9-2 overall) was hot from the perimeter most of the night, sinking 10-of-22, while holding Jamestown to 2-of-19.

“We have a bunch of kids that can shoot it really well,” Winczewski said. “Sometimes, we’re actually too passive.”

Jamestown (1-5, 2-7), which goes to Mandan on Tuesday, received a team-high 12 points and eight rebounds from David Hanson.

“We were not effective in the second half of getting shots we wanted,” Kessler said. “Sometimes, when we struggle so long offensively, that affects our defense.”

Minot 85, Jamestown 38

Minot 32 85

Jamestown 21 38

Minot: Noah Bosh 15, Jesse Andrist 14, Austin Frank 10, Colter Hustad 10, Brandon VanDusen 9, Caleb Albertson 9, Brian Bloms 9, Kyle Gerding 7, Marquis Johnson 2. Totals 33-63 9-15 85

Jamestown: David Hanson 12, Nick Fuchs 6, Alex McInnes 7, McKade Kleinknecht 5, Austin Remmich 3, Brandon Wegner 2, Houston Lindell 2, Scott Nelson 1. Totals: 13-48 10-24 38.

3-pointers: M 10-22 (Andrist 4, Bloms 3, Frank 2, Gerding), J 2-19 (Kleinknecht, Remmick). Rebounds: M 41 (Gerding 12), J 20 (Hanson 8). Assists: M 13 (Gerding 5), J 3 (Wegner 2). Steals: M 8 (three with 2), J 4 (Wegner 2). Blocks: M 2 (VanDusen, Frank), J 2 (Hanson, Wegner). Total fouls: M 21, J 12. Fouled out: M, Hustad. Turnovers: M 9, J 16.

Sun sports writer Chris Aarhus can be reached at (701) 952-8462 or by email at caarhus@jamestownsun.com

Tags: jays, basketball, sports