After the third and final day of the Region 2B boys’ basketball tournament, Nelson County and North Star will each be playing in a state qualifier game.
Nelson County lost the championship game Thursday, while North Star won the third-place game. All games were held at the Devils Lake Sports Center.
North Star’s first two games of the tournament had been close contests. On Thursday, the Bearcats (19-6) won 63-39 over North Border (13-12), keeping their season alive.
North Star trailed 14-8 through the first quarter, and 27-26 at halftime. The Bearcats went on to outscore the Eagles 37-12 in the second half, including 20-3 in the fourth quarter. They got 25 points from Ian Westlind, 16 from Kade Mitchell and 13 from Hunter Hagler.
North Star advances to Saturday at SCHEELS Center in the Sanford Health Athletic Complex, where it will face Edgeley/Kulm/Montpelier (17-8) at 5 p.m. The Bearcats and Rebels have not met this season. The winner advances to the Division B state tournament; the loser’s season is done.
In the second game Thursday evening, Nelson County (17-7) fell 56-49 to Midway/Minto (22-3) in the region championship.
The Chargers opened the game down 14-8 but were still in it at the half, trailing 28-27. M/M had a nine-point lead after three quarters. The Chargers were competitive but came up a little short.
Their two all-district forwards, Rider Schmidt and Jaxson Joramo, each scored 14. Brody Rainsberry added eight points.
Joramo was named to the all-region team after the game.
Hagler was North Star’s lone all-region selection.
New Rockford-Sheyenne’s Easton Simon was named the Region 2B Senior Athlete of the Year, while his teammate Easton Benz also made the all-region team.
Warwick’s Anthony Touche Jr. and Langdon Area/Munich’s Eastyn Schaefer were among the other all-region honorees.
Nelson County’s season is still alive. The Chargers will join North Star in playing at SCHEELS Center in the Sanford Health Athletic Complex on Saturday, in the final game of the day at approximately 7 p.m. They’ll face Linton/HMB (17-8), a team they haven’t played this season.
For what it’s worth, Linton/HMB played NR-S on Jan. 5 and lost 61-53. Nelson County played NR-S on Jan. 26 and won 56-52.
A win on Saturday would give the Chargers their first state berth for Dakota Prairie since 2009 and first for Lakota since 1976.
A loss would end their season.
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