MAYVILLE — The Firebirds avoided a whole lot of extra stress with a win on Thursday.
Almost exactly a month ago, No. 3 Devils Lake girls’ basketball lost to Carrington, 68-55. The Firebirds and Cardinals split their season series.
The teams met again Thursday in the Region 2 championship at Mayville State University. It wasn’t an elimination game — but it was one that would send the loser to a state qualifier against Kindred, a team that beat Devils Lake during the regular season. Last year, during the Firebirds’ eventual state championship run, they had to win a state qualifier just to make it to the ultimate tournament.
They won’t have to do that this time around. The Firebirds (20-3) plucked the Cardinals (16-6) with ease on Thursday, taking them down 65-31. Tylie Brodina and Presley Brown scored 15 and 13 points, respectively. Eleven different Devils Lake players were in the scoring column.
“This is a relief,” Firebirds head coach Justin Klein said. “This is a great feeling for us, especially for the six seniors… It gives us a little relaxation for the next couple days. Sit back and watch the other region challenge games and get ready for next week.”
Devils Lake came out playing the same fast-paced, aggressive style that fueled it to victory in the second half of Tuesday’s game against Grafton. Brown made a drive right away to get the Firebirds on the board, and they led 7-0 after 3-of-4 free throws from Claire Heilman and a layup by Torri Fee.
The Cardinals didn’t score until 4:00 in the first quarter. But they rapidly made it a one-point game on back-to-back threes by Aniston Hoornaert.
Devils Lake wasted no time fighting back. Jolie Martinson got to the rim, and Brodina made a deuce and a triple to cap a 9-0 run.
“They really took Tylie out of their game in Carrington, and they didn’t really do that tonight,” Klein said. “She did a good job getting away from the defense and finding open spots. And I think just overall, we were probably better prepared and ready to play a little bit more than we were the last time.”
Brown scored eight points on four field goals in the first quarter. Brodina had seven points. And the Firebirds stormed out to a 24-9 lead.
“I think we just tried to have pressure on their guards,” Brodina said, “and try to force them and make them do errors. And that just really showed tonight.”
It was a closer second quarter, with Devils Lake outscoring Carrington 13-11. Fee made the Firebirds’ second triple of the game. Their advantage at halftime was a comfortable 37-20 despite Brodina and Brown being limited to three total points in the period.
Carrington got just one field goal from its starters in the first half, though Hoornaert scored 11 off the bench.
Isabel Wendel scored first for Carrington in the second half. Devils Lake responded with a 14-0 run that completely put the game away. Brodina made her second three-pointer of the evening, and Brown and Heilman each got to the rim twice.
Devils Lake’s lead was a whopping 57-25 after allowing just five points in the third quarter.
“We changed it up a little bit on the press,” Klein said. “We didn’t adjust a lot of things, but the thing is we came ready to play. We were focused.”
It cruised with a running clock in the final eight minutes and won by 34.
The state tournament takes place at the Minot State Dome from Thursday to Saturday.
“That’s the trouble; there’s a week off,” Klein said. “We don’t want that lapse… We can go back tomorrow and practice, get some things lined up and then kind of game-watch on Saturday to see who maybe we’re gonna play.”
Devils Lake, after ending a 37-year drought last year, will look to repeat as a state champion.
“I think we just need to come in with a new mind,” Brodina said. “And just work hard in every game and listen to the coach.”
Awards: Tylie Brodina, Presley Brown, Torri Fee (Devils Lake) and Suri Gourd (Four Winds/Minnewaukan were named to the all-region team. Jason Wiberg (Devils Lake) was named the Region 2 athletic director of the year.
