MINOT — The North Dakota state Class B boys basketball tournament opened Thursday at the Minot State Dome. The tournament is regarded as the crown jewel of the North Dakota prep basketball season, drawing big crowds, a statewide television audience and the top teams in the state.
None of that mattered to Kindred as the poised and athletic Vikings rolled past Bowman County 61-38 to advance to Friday night’s semifinal round.
The Vikings also are seeking a repeat state title and the show they put on against Bowman County indicated they’re still on course to reach Saturday night’s championship game.
If Kindred did have nerves playing a state tournament game, the Vikings didn’t show it. Perhaps that’s the result of winning state last season and Region 1 – regarded as the most competitive region in Class B basketball – this season.
“Our kids and our coaching staff have been in these types of situations,” said Kindred coach Brad Woehl. “We know what it takes to win and be successful in these big games.
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Bowman County, which was seeded fourth in its region, hung with the Vikings through the first quarter, trailing 15-12.
But Kindred dominated the second quarter, outscoring the Region 8 champion 24-10.The Vikings used a 16-3 run in the quarter, a spurt that was highlighted by a pair of two-hand dunks by Jaiden Peraza and another by Paul Olson.
“We maybe started a little slow,” said Woehl. “But once we settled in, we got out on the break and got some easy baskets. And we like to go inside and use our size because they were a little undersized.”
Olson, a 6-foot-5 senior, led the Vikings with 19 points. The 6-6 Peraza ended with 13 points as Kindred outrebounded Bowman County 32-24, but that advantage at the half was 18-8 in favor of the Vikings.
The three dunks by Peraza and Olson were of the highlight variety and ignited Kindred, which kicked up its transition game and dominated the paint during the second quarter.
“A lot of us can dunk,” said Peraza, who went 6-for-9 from the floor. “When we get those dunks, it gives us momentum and gets the crowd into it.”
Kindred shot 52 percent while Bowman County shot 32 percent. The Bulldogs were led by Bohden Duffield’s 16 points.
Kindred advances to the semifinals with a 21-2 record.
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The semifinal matchup will be another in a long line of pressure games for the Vikings.
“We just go forward with the mindset that we have to win one game at a time,” said Peraza. “Then we just move on to the next game.”
Kindred 61, Bowman County 38
Halftime: Kindred 39, BC 22
Bowman County – Bohden Duffield 16, Bishop Duffield 9, Carson Massey 2, Kirklan Meschke 6, Samuel Andrews
Kindred – Brock Woehl 5, Paul Olson 19, Maxwell McQuillan 9, Riley Sunram 9, Karson Ose 2, Presley Peraza 2, Jorgen Swenson 2
