JAMESTOWN — The Linton/Hazelton-Moffit-Braddock Lions came in trying to defend their Region 3 title and they survived the first hurdle on that mission by getting a 50-37 win over LaMoure/Litchville-Marion on Monday, Feb. 20, at the Jamestown Civic Center.
“I think this is what you work for you want to get into the semis of the regional tournament and that's right where we are,” Lions head coach Michael Schirado said. “That’s where we felt we could be at the beginning of the season and everything is still right there in front of us. I think we have a group of girls that truly believes in themselves and that’s all that matters.”
The game started tight with the teams tied at 11 but the Lions (13-9) went on a run to finish the quarter up 16-11. The Lions pushed the run out further early in the second quarter before the Loboes’ Tessa Rasmusson hit a layup to cut the deficit to 20-13 with 6:10 to go in the second quarter. Midway through the second quarter, the Lions stretched their lead out to double digits thanks to an Allie Dockter jumper to make it 24-14 with 1:25 to go in the quarter.
The Loboes (11-12) came out flying in the second half going on a 10-0 run to tie the game up at 24, but the Lions immediately punched back with a run to take a 38-24 lead. The run continued when the Lions’ Emma Schick hit a three to push the lead out to 41-26 with 7:40 to go in the game. That proved to be the Lions’ biggest lead in this game. The closest the Loboes got was within ten when Addison Smith hit both at the line to make it 41-31 with three minutes to go.
“We had really good confidence going into the fourth quarter,” Schick said. “We had a lot of energy built up from going on that big run in the game. I thought we had a lot of energy going into the fourth and I think that’s what helped us finish the game strong.”
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The Loboes finished the game shooting 58% from the stripe, while the Lions shot 69% from the free throw line.
Schick finished the game as one of three Lions with 10 points, alongside Allie Dockter and Kaylee Weninger. Despite the loss, Loboes head coach Ben Holen was not mad at his roster that came in as one of the youngest in the tournament with only one upperclassmen.
“They fought until the end and that’s what you like to see,” Holen said. “That’s character, toughness and love for their teammates showing. Those are things they’ll take with them the rest of their lives and be able to use outside of sports, and that’s big time.”
The Lions return to the court against Kidder County with the time and date still to be determined.
L/HMB 50, L/L-M 37
L/HMB: 16 8 14 12–50
L/L-M: 11 5 8 13–37
Points leaders:
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L/HMB: Allie Dockter 10, Emma Schick 10, Kaylee Weninger 10, Jersey Vogel 7
L/L-M: Tessa Rasmusson 13, Addy Smith 7, Norah DelaBarre 6
Assists leaders:
L/HMB: Weninger 3, Doctor 3, Vogel 2
L/L-M: Bailie Kelley 1, Georgia Lettenmaier 1
Leading rebounders:
L/HMB: Weninger 7, Vogel 7, Schick 3, Weiser 3
L/L-M: DelaBarre 6, Lettenmaier 6, Addie Robbins 3
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