MINOT, ND – Kindred remains atop the final Class 11B football poll of the season. The polls are voted on by the North Dakota Associated Press Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.

 

 

Team (First Place Votes)                   Record    Points    Last Week
1. Kindred (17)                                     9-0           85           1
2. Velva-Garrison-Drake/Anamoose    9-0           63           2
3. Hillsboro-Central Valley                   8-1            54           3
4. Dickinson Trinity                               8-1           20           5
T5. Bottineau                                        8-1           16          RV
T5. Oakes                                            8-1            16          RV

 

Others receiving votes: Beulah Oakes (7-2)

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MINOT, ND – There’s new number ones for both the Class A and Class B Volleyball polls. The polls are voted on by the North Dakota Associated Press Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.

 

 

Team (First Place Votes)        Record    Points    Last Poll
1. Bismarck Century (8)           25-2          60           2
2. West Fargo Sheyenne (5)    25-2          57           1
3. Jamestown                           25-4          38           3
4. Bismarck Legacy                  18-9          14           4
5. Fargo North                          22-7          13           5

 

Others receiving votes: Fargo South (20-7), West Fargo (20-8), Bismarck St. Mary’s (17-11)

 

 

Team (First Place Votes)              Record    Points    Last Poll
1. Linton-HMB (5)                            30-1        111          2
2. Northern Cass (5)                        30-1        110          1
T3. May-Port CG (2)                        25-3          92          4
T3. Kenmare-Bowbells                    36-2          92          3
5. Thompson                                    26-6          83          5
6. Langdon Area-Edmore-Munich    29-7          49          6
7. Oakes                                           21-6          35          7
T8. Central Cass                               24-7          29         8
T8. Garrison                                      22-2          29        10
10. Dickinson Trinity                          25-6          19          9

 

Others receiving votes: LaMoure-Litchville-Marion (21-9), North Prairie (25-6), Cavalier (20-7)

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MINOT, ND – Scores from Wednesday:

 

 

Class A
#1 Bismarck Century def. #3 Jamestown (3-0) 25-16, 25-19, 25-19
#4 Bismarck Legacy def. Bismarck High (3-1) 22-25, 25-22, 25-15, 25-23
Watford City def. Minot High (3-1) 14-25, 25-15, 25-17, 25-19
Williston def. Mandan (3-0) 27-25, 25-15, 25-23

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NDOA-HALL OF FAME CLASS

 

VALLEY CITY, N.D. – The North Dakota Officials Association (NDOA) announced the 52nd induction class to its Hall of Fame as determined at its Fall Board of Directors meeting. The NDOA has inducted 159 officials into its Hall of Fame since the inaugural class in 1965. Plaques commemorating all Hall of Fame members are housed in the North Dakota Athletic Hall of Fame, located inside the Jamestown Civic Center. Inductees are:

 

 

Lynda began her officiating career in the winter of 1983 officiating volleyball contests and is still an active official in the sport, often officiating high school matches several days a week. During her time as an official, Lynda served as an NDHSAA Volleyball Officials Workshop Supervisor for several years. Currently, she serves as a scheduler for numerous volleyball contests and tournaments and assignor for volleyball officials in the Minot area. As an NDHSAA veteran official, Lynda mentors young and new officials in her area.
Lynda has worked numerous district and regional volleyball tournaments at the high school level and has also officiated NAIA collegiate volleyball matches for several years. During her career, Lynda has been selected to officiate 26 NDHSAA Volleyball State Tournaments – 21 Class B state tournaments and five Class A state tournaments. Other honors Lynda has received for her officiating include the National Federation of Interscholastic Officials Association Distinguished Service Award (1991) and the North Dakota High School Coaches Association’s Special Recognition Award (2022). Through officiating volleyball at the high school and collegiate levels, Lynda has had the opportunity to meet and work with many people – fellow officials, athletic directors, coaches, players, and parents – many who have become family to her.

 

 

Mike Nider registered as a wrestling official in 1985, and football official in 1989. During his 35 years as a wrestling referee he officiated 12-plus state tournaments, over 20 regional tournaments, 300-plus duals, and hundreds of regular season tournaments. He had the honor of officiating all four Class B regionals and the Class A West regional. At the collegiate level, he has officiated the University of Mary, Jamestown College, Dickinson State tournaments and an NCAA Division II Tournament in Fargo. In addition, he worked over 300 varsity football games. He had the honor of officiating 20-plus state football playoff games. He worked countless sub-varsity and middle school football games. He believed the younger, less experienced officials needed mentoring and guidance, so he continued to work sub varsity games and tournaments with them, right up to his retirement in 2020. Mike continues to work the North Dakota State Track and Field Meet. He has served as the head official for the Pole Vault for the last 18 years. He currently serves a North Dakota State Deputy Umpire in Chief for NDUSA Softball. He is an active umpire and has umpired for 44 years. He was inducted into the McQuade Softball Hall of Fame in 2021. Mike worked as an educator and coach at Leah’s Elementary (Raleigh, ND) 1978-79, St. Vincent’s (Mott, ND) 1979-1981, St. Joseph Elementary (Mandan, ND)1981-1991, Mandan Junior High 1991-2004, and Simle Middle School (Bismarck) 2004-2014, retiring in 2014. Mike is married to LouAnn. They have two children, Alexis (Mandan) and Anthony (Fargo). Two grandchildren Jake and Lucy.

 

 

Stephanie Smith’s passion for volleyball began as a player for Century High School, where she was a member of the first-ever North Dakota State Volleyball Championship team in 1984. After encouragement from her former high school coach, Lynette Olson, Smith began her officiating career in the 1986-1987 season and continued to do so until her retirement in 2018. In addition to officiating high school volleyball, she also officiated at the NJCAA, NAIA and NCAA Division II levels. During her tenure as a volleyball official, Smith was affiliated with the North Dakota Officials Association and the Professional Association of Volleyball Officials. She served as a workshop supervisor for NDHSAA Volleyball Officials starting in the ‘90s until 2018 and mentored many new and seasoned officials along the way. Sheryl Solberg, former NDHSAA Assistant Director, said this about Smith: “Although Steph’s volleyball knowledge is highly respected, she is also remembered for her approachable, professional demeanor and sense of humor. There was no doubt that Steph could make the tough calls, but she remained humble in her reflections, always wishing to learn and improve. Steph understood her role as an official and strove to provide an equal playing field for all athletes. She enjoyed watching the sport grow as more teams formed across the state, and she marveled at the athletic talent as the level of play steadily increased.” Smith was honored to be selected to officiate 18 NDHSAA State Volleyball Tournaments and approximately 30 region volleyball tournaments. Smith is a court reporter and is co-owner of a court reporting agency in Bismarck and continues to line judge in her free time.

 

 

Tim Campbell began officiating in the fall of 1983 and continues to do so. Tim also serves as the Southeast area officials workshop supervisor and assists as the assignor for the Tri-State Officials Association. In the summer months, Tim facilitates camps throughout the state for basketball officials. During his officiating career, Tim has officiated a total of 18 NDHSAA basketball state tournaments (three Class A Girls, three Class B Girls, one Class A Boys, and 11 Class B Boys) six of which were NDHSAA State Champion games. Tim has also worked numerous boys and girls region and district basketball tournaments in North Dakota as well as in the states of South Dakota and Minnesota. Tim has also officiated four NDHSAA Dakota Bowl Football Championship games. Tim is currently a Richland County Commissioner and a salesman for S&S Specialties and Yield Advantage-Midwest Seed. Tim is married to his wife, Kelli, and has 3 children: daughter Jordyn (Shane Bossert), son Taylor (Kennedy), and daughter Jadyn, and grandson, Kase.

 

 

Mitch Parker began officiating North Dakota high school boys and girls basketball in 1984 and high school football in 1994. Parker officiated a total of 35 seasons of North Dakota high school athletics. During his career he worked 11 state tournaments and 25-plus region and district tournaments. In addition to his high school career Parker also officiated college basketball for 15-plus years in the North Central Conference, Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, Dakota Athletic Conference, and North Dakota Junior College Athletic Conference working many conference and regional tournaments. Parker was an active member in the Red River Valley Officials Association, serving three terms on their Board of Directors, as well as serving three terms on the North Dakota Officials Association Board of Directors. Over the years he served as a workshop supervisor, day camp supervisor, and rules clinician. He also served nine years on the Board of Directors of Special Olympics of North Dakota.

Parker is the CFO of Precision Plumbing, Heating, and Dirtworks. He is married to Peggy and has two children, daughter Kelsey (Deryk) grandson Jack, and son Taylor (Taylor).

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TIMBERWOLVES-THUNDER

 

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Rudy Gobert stood out on both ends of the floor — on a night when the Minnesota Timberwolves needed a big lift from their new big man. Gobert had 23 points and 16 rebounds in his Minnesota debut, and the Timberwolves recovered to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 115-108 on Wednesday in the season opener. D’Angelo Russell had 20 points and Jaden McDaniels added 19 points for the Timberwolves, who turned a 16-point lead into a six-point deficit during the third quarter. “It shows how good we can be and how much better we can be at the same time,” Gobert said. “It’s going to be a process, and every night’s going to be an opportunity.” Gobert stepped up with a steadying hand when Karl-Anthony Towns (12 points) and Anthony Edwards (11 points) shot a combined 6 for 27 from the floor and the entire team had trouble finishing at the rim. Gobert did his usual shot-altering work on defense in the paint, too.

 

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 32 points and cut the lead to 105-103 with 4:04 left, but they didn’t get any closer after that. “We have the ability to flip the switch, but the earlier we can do it the better it will be,” said Oklahoma City’s Josh Giddey, who pitched in 14 points and 11 rebounds. The Timberwolves won all four matchups with the Thunder last season by an average of more than 26 points. One of the most anticipated seasons for Timberwolves fans in the star-crossed history of their team, coming off a return to the playoffs and the blockbuster addition of Gobert in a trade with Utah, began with the home team in complete control.

 

After Minnesota went ahead by a game-high 16 points, the Thunder went on a 27-5 run. Eugene Omoruyi, who did fine work defending Towns during that stretch, knocked down a shot in the paint for Oklahoma City’s first lead with 3:01 left in the period. Gobert single-handedly cranked the crowd energy back up by stealing a bad pass by Mike Muscala, beating him to the loose ball and flipping in a one-handed runner ahead of the buzzer to tie it at 87. Gobert dunked on Giddey for a 92-89 lead to give the fans yet another highlight. “I appreciate the love,” Gobert said. “It feels good to see the crowd and the community embracing me already.”

 

The Timberwolves had to work for this win against a pesky, young and fast Thunder team that’s playing without injured No. 2 overall draft pick Chet Holmgren. “Scrappy games should suit our guys,” Giddey said. “We’re young guys. We should love those type of environments.”

 

The biggest question surrounding the Timberwolves is how effectively Gobert and Towns can play together, a pair of 7-footers — albeit with distinct skill sets — in this age of long-distance shooting and position-less small ball across the NBA. Gobert put his name on the first basket of the season, a put-back of his own miss, and the twin towers provided a glimpse of how well they can play off of each other with Towns twice flipping him top-of-the-key lob passes for dunks in the first half. Towns had eight assists. “I was just trying to utilize my passing ability,” Towns said, “and just play winning basketball.”

 

CONTACT SPORT

The Thunder lost rookie Jalen Williams — one of three 2022 lottery selections on the roster — to a right eye injury in the second quarter. He took a hit while trying to defend a dunk attempt by McDaniels and needed assistance to leave the floor.

 

HOMECOMING FOR HOLMGREN

The luster was stripped off the opener for Oklahoma City’s prized rookie when he ruptured a tendon in his right foot in a pro-am game that ended his first season before it began. Holmgren grew up in south Minneapolis, just a few miles from Target Center, and accompanied the Thunder on the trip so he could see family and enjoy some bonding time with his teammates. The rehab program will take priority for Holmgren over traveling with the team over the course of the season.

 

TIP-INS

Thunder: Kenrich Williams and Aleksej Pokusevski were surprise starters in the frontcourt. The 7-foot Pokusevski had 11 points and seven rebounds in 25 minutes. … Jeremiah Robinson-Earl started the second half in place of Williams.

Timberwolves: Jaylen Nowell, who had 13 points, put the Timberwolves ahead for good with his layup with 10:47 remaining. … Eric Paschall, who played 58 games for Utah last season and was in camp on a two-way contract, was waived before the game amid lingering left Achilles trouble.

 

UP NEXT

Thunder: Visit Denver on Saturday night. Their home opener is against Minnesota on Sunday night.

Timberwolves: Host Utah on Friday night, when Gobert takes on his former team. “It’s going to be fun,” he said. “It’s all love from me.”

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MLB-PLAYOFFS

 

HOUSTON (AP) — Justin Verlander struck out 11 in six strong innings and Yuli Gurriel, Chas McCormick and Jeremy Peña all homered to power the Houston Astros to a 4-2 win over the New York Yankees in their AL Championship Series opener. The Astros are in their sixth consecutive ALCS, looking to reach the World Series for the fourth time in that span, against a New York team in the LCS for the first time since being eliminated by Houston in 2019. The game was tied 1-all in the sixth when Gurriel connected off reliever Clarke Schmidt for a solo shot that put Houston on top. Two batters later, McCormick sent a sinker from Schmidt into right field to make it 3-1.

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SAN DIEGO (AP) — Brandon Drury hit a go-ahead, two-run single during a five-run rally in the fifth inning and the San Diego Padres stunned Aaron Nola and the Philadelphia Phillies 8-5 to tie their all-wild card NL Championship Series at one game apiece. The outburst started with Padres catcher Austin Nola hitting an RBI single off his younger brother that brought the sellout, towel-twirling crowd of 44,607 at Petco Park to life. Three innings earlier, the Phillies took a 4-0 lead with a rally that included bloop hits, a sun-aided double on a gorgeous, 92-degree afternoon and some shoddy Padres defense.