K-HEART SPORTS – THURSDAY – 01/25/24
MINOT, ND – Minot High is atop both Class AA high school basketball polls again this week. The polls are voted on by the North Dakota Associated Press Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association (NDAPSSA).
Class AA Girls Basketball Poll
Team (1st Place Votes) Record Polling Points Last Week
1. Minot High (18) 12-2 90 1
2. Bismarck Century 11-1 69 2
3. Fargo Davies 9-1 49 5
4. Grand Forks Red River 11-2 28 RV
5. Bismarck Legacy 10-3 22 4
1. Minot High (18) 12-2 90 1
2. Bismarck Century 11-1 69 2
3. Fargo Davies 9-1 49 5
4. Grand Forks Red River 11-2 28 RV
5. Bismarck Legacy 10-3 22 4
Others receiving votes: West Fargo Horace (10-2), Bismarck High (10-4), Mandan (9-5)
Class AA Boys Basketball Poll
Team (1st Place Votes) Record Polling Points Last Week
1. Minot High (18) 13-0 90 1
2. Bismarck Century 11-0 63 2
3. Fargo Davies 8-3 42 T5
4. Fargo South 8-4 31 RV
5. Bismarck High 9-5 27 RV
1. Minot High (18) 13-0 90 1
2. Bismarck Century 11-0 63 2
3. Fargo Davies 8-3 42 T5
4. Fargo South 8-4 31 RV
5. Bismarck High 9-5 27 RV
Other receiving votes: West Fargo Sheyenne (9-4), Grand Forks Central (8-4), Bismarck Legacy (8-5)
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MSU MENS HOCKEY
MANDAN, N.D. (MSU) – A good start for half the game was not enough for the Minot State men’s hockey team as they were leapfrogged by in-state rival University of Mary at Schwan Cadillac Arena in Mandan, ND on Wednesday night. The 1st-ranked Beavers (22-5-0) were upset by the No. 10 Marauders (19-9-0) in a 5-3 final score. Minot State jumped ahead to 2-0 and 3-2 leads, all for Mary to battle back from multiple deficits and take it out of the hands of the Beavers. Minot opened the game with the ice breaker on a beautiful centering feed midway through the first to go up 1-0 heading to the locker room. In the second period, things were looking up for the Beavers after a Marauders miscue in the defensive zone to make the lead 2-0. Gearing towards the final five minutes of the period, Mary would up the intensity to not only answer once but twice, with the tying goal occurring at four seconds left in the second period. Minot State responded early in the third only for the Marauders to tie it just over a minute later. It would stay 3-3 for about 14 minutes until Mary scored the go-ahead goal, a back breaker for the Beavers with just over 3 minutes left in regulation. Minot State would eventually fall short in rally efforts with the extra attacker as Mary collected the empty netter to seal the deal. Both teams will meet one last time this season on February 22 in Minot.
The two top point leaders on the Beavers combined for the opening goal, as Christian Kadolph set up Carter Barley for his 12th of the year. You can tally another goal for Reid Arnold after he was able to extend his total to 17 on a short-handed effort in the second period. Jay Buchholz also grabbed his ninth goal in the final period of regulation. Going into the night with a shutout streak on the line, it was Riley Wallace getting the start for the Beavers in net. Unfortunately, the streak came to an end at 224 minutes for Wallace as he managed his way up to 23 saves on 27 total shots. Up next for the Beavers is a home-and-home set this weekend with the Jamestown Jimmies. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. (CT) in Jamestown on Friday and 3:45 p.m. (CT) Saturday in the Magic City.
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MSU MENS BASKETBALL
MINOT, N.D. (MSU) – Riding a seven-game win streak that includes an upset of then No. 1-ranked Minnesota State, Mankato, the Minot State men’s basketball team climbed five spots in this week’s NABC Coaches Top 25 poll and are No. 16 in the nation. The Beavers (15-3 overall, 10-2 NSIC) earned the program’s first-ever NCAA Division II national ranking last week, checking into the Top 25 at No. 21. The Beavers promptly handed the No. 1-ranked Mavericks an 81-71 setback, part of Minot State current win streak which the team stretched to seven games with a 77-70 victory Saturday at the MSU Dome over Winona State. The pair of weekend wins helped the Beavers climb in the poll, while the Mavericks slid from the top spot to No. 5 in the nation. NSIC foe Minnesota State, Moorhead was at No. 3 in this week’s poll, which was topped by new No. 1 West Texas A&M. The 16th-ranked Beavers hit the road this week to play at Augustana tonight and at Wayne State on Saturday.
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TIMBERWOLVES-WIZARDS
WASHINGTON (AP) — Anthony Edwards scored 38 points and the Western Conference-leading Minnesota Timberwolves avoided their first three-game skid of the season, beating the Washington Wizards 118-107 on Wednesday night. Karl-Anthony Towns had 27 points and Rudy Gobert added 19 points and 16 rebounds for the Wolves. Minnesota was coming off a home loss to lowly Charlotte in which Towns scored 62 points, a performance coach Chris Finch called “disgusting” and “immature.” Deni Avdija scored a season-high 24 points for the Wizards, who dropped their fifth straight, the fourth skid of at least that many games for the league’s second-worst team. Washington has only one win this season over a team that came in with a winning record. The Timberwolves play at Brooklyn tonight.
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TWINS-SIGNING
NEW YORK (AP) — Bubba Thompson was claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Twins from the New York Yankees on Wednesday, moving to his fourth team of the offseason. Infielder Jeter Downs and outfielder Oscar González passed through waivers and were assigned outright to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Thompson was designated for assignment Friday to open a roster spot for right-hander Luke Weaver. Thompson was claimed by the Yankees off waivers on Jan. 4 from Cincinnati, which claimed him on Oct. 26 from Kansas City. The Royals had claimed him from Texas on Aug 13. The 25-year-old hit .170 (9 for 53) with no homers, four RBIs and four stolen bases in 37 games with Texas last year.