K-HEART SPORTS – THURSDAY – 12/21/23
MINOT, ND – Minot High remains ranked in both Class AA high school basketball polls 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 (16) 6-0 88 1
2. Fargo Davies 4-0 63 2
3. Bismarck Century (2) 7-0 51 4
4. Grand Forks Red River 4-1 45 3
5. West Fargo Horace 4-0 9 RV
1. Minot High (16) 6-0 88 1
2. Fargo Davies 4-0 63 2
3. Bismarck Century (2) 7-0 51 4
4. Grand Forks Red River 4-1 45 3
5. West Fargo Horace 4-0 9 RV
Others receiving votes: Bismarck Legacy (4-1), Dickinson (5-1), Bismarck High (4-3)
Class AA Boys Basketball Poll
Team (1st Place Votes) Record Polling Points Last Week
1. Fargo North (12) 6-0 83 1
2. Fargo Davies (3) 4-0 65 2
3. Minot High (1) 6-0 61 3
4. Bismarck Century (2) 7-0 43 4
5. Grand Forks Central 4-2 13 5
1. Fargo North (12) 6-0 83 1
2. Fargo Davies (3) 4-0 65 2
3. Minot High (1) 6-0 61 3
4. Bismarck Century (2) 7-0 43 4
5. Grand Forks Central 4-2 13 5
Other receiving votes: West Fargo Sheyenne (4-2), Dickinson (4-2)
—————————————————-
UND MENS BASKETBALL
LINCOLN, Neb. (UND) – The North Dakota men’s basketball team closed its nonconference slate Wednesday night with a showdown in the capital of the Cornhusker State. Despite leading by ten at halftime, the Fighting Hawks fell to Nebraska 83-75. Tyree Ihenacho led the way for UND, scoring a career high 22 points. B.J. Omot scored 21 and Treysen Eaglestaff added 13. Omot led with eight rebounds, including seven in the first half. Eli King led with four assists, Eaglestaff and Ihenacho tied for the team lead with two steals each and Omot and Tsotne Tsartsidze each blocked a shot.
NoDak started the game on an 11-4 run, with Omot hitting from beyond the arc to start the scoring for the Fighting Hawks and Ihenacho scoring four in the stretch. Later in the first half, the green and white went up by double digits as Brady Danielson got back-to-back layups that put UND up 25-15. As the half went on, Nebraska climbed back in the game and with 4:15 left in the half the game was knotted at 31. UND closed the half on an 11-1 run to lead 42-32 at the break. Omot scored 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds in the frame, while Ihenacho scored 14. Eaglestaff came out of the intermission with a three pointer and Omot went 1-2 from the foul line to stretch the lead to 14 at 46-32, the largest lead of the game for the Fighting Hawks. From there, Nebraska chipped away and pulled within one at 49-48. Omot hit a jumper to push the lead back to three, but Nebraska tied it up on the next basket and from there the Huskers took the lead and held it the rest of the way. Danielson hit two foul shots with 2:17 left to bring UND within five at 74-69, but the Fighting Hawks were unable to pull any closer. North Dakota will be off for the next eight days before starting their Summit League slate at home against St. Thomas Dec. 29.
—————————————————-
NDSU WOMENS BASKETBALL
FARGO, N.D. (NDSU) – After nine days idle, the North Dakota State women’s basketball team ground out a 67-57 victory over Central Michigan on Wednesday night at Scheels Center. With the win, the Bison improve to 5-6 on the season, including a 4-0 mark at Scheels Center. Abbie Draper led the way for NDSU with a game-high 16 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field and tying a career-high six free throws on six attempts. She also added five rebounds with one block and one assist to her stat line. Abby Krzewinski netted a season-high 14 points after shooting 6-of-6 from the field, while Elle Evans chipped in 11 points and a team-best six rebounds. Abby Schulte, who surpassed the 200-career assists mark, rounded out the top performers with a season-high five assists and tied a career-high four steals. As a team, the Bison shot 39.7 percent (25-63) from the field and 84.2 percent (16-19) from the free throw line. NDSU also posted 38 points in the paint and 17 points off of turnovers. NDSU got off to a quick start opening up a 10-2 lead at the 4:27 mark of the first quarter following a jumper from Evans. The Bison, who shot 44.4 percent from the field in the first half, stretched their lead to 14, 33-19, with 31 seconds to play in the second quarter after a Krzewinski drained a layup. NDSU went on to grow its largest lead of the contest, 56-32, by the 1:45 mark of the third quarter following a pair of free throws from Heaven Hamling. Central Michigan (1-8) made a late run in the fourth frame hitting three triples to cut the edge down to six, 61-55, after Tiana Timpe connected on a three-pointer. However, NDSU was able to hold off Central Michigan the rest of way to secure the 67-57 victory. NDSU will be back in action to begin Summit League play at South Dakota on Friday, Dec. 29. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. CT
—————————————————–
NDSU FOOTBALL-SIGNING DAY
FARGO, N.D. (NDSU) – The North Dakota State University football program signed 20 high school student-athletes to letters of intent on Wednesday, the first day of the three-day early signing period for Division I football. The 2024 early signing class includes seven players from North Dakota, six from Minnesota, two from South Dakota, and one each from Nebraska, Colorado, Texas, Indiana and Virginia. On offense, the Bison added three offensive linemen, three wide receivers, two tight ends, one fullback, one running back and one long snapper. There are two defensive linemen, three linebackers, two cornerbacks and two safeties on defense.
North Dakota players include:
WR Logan Conklin of Minot High
OL Coy Okeson of Bishop Ryan
OL Nate Tastad of North Prairie
WR Isiah St. Romain of Williston
LB Peder Haugo of Fargo North
TE Reis Kessel of Fargo South
LS Grant Knodle of West Fargo Sheyenne
WR Logan Conklin of Minot High
OL Coy Okeson of Bishop Ryan
OL Nate Tastad of North Prairie
WR Isiah St. Romain of Williston
LB Peder Haugo of Fargo North
TE Reis Kessel of Fargo South
LS Grant Knodle of West Fargo Sheyenne
Following the three-day early signing period this week, the regular signing period for Division I football will run from February 7 to April 1. North Dakota State, coming off its 12th NCAA semifinal appearance in the past 13 seasons, will be under the direction of first-year head coach Tim Polasek, who spent 10 years at NDSU as an assistant coach from 2006 to 2012 and offensive coordinator 2014 to 2016. The Bison are scheduled to open the 2024 season at Colorado on Saturday, Aug. 31.
————————————————-
NDSU FOOTBALL-HONORS
FARGO, N.D. (NDSU) – North Dakota State had three players selected to the AFCA FCS All-America Team announced Wednesday, Dec. 20, by the American Football Coaches Association. Long snapper Hunter Brozio, left tackle Jalen Sundell and safety Cole Wisniewski were all named to the first team. NDSU was the only school with three first-team selections. North Dakota State went 11-4 overall and advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA Division I Football Championship for the 12th time in 13 seasons.
———————————————-
UND FOOTBALL-SIGNING DAY
GRAND FORKS, N.D. (UND) – University of North Dakota head football coach Bubba Schweigert announced 28 prospective student-athletes and incoming transfers have signed with the Fighting Hawks on Wednesday morning. 24 of the 28 signees will join UND after their high school careers, while four will also join the program as transfers.
Class Breakdown
By State: Minnesota (5), Iowa (4), Nebraska (4), North Dakota (4), Wisconsin (4), Kansas (3), Illinois (1), South Carolina (1), South Dakota (1), Virginia (1)
By Position: OL (8), DB (6), DL (4), LB (2), QB (2), TE (2), WR (2), K (1), RB (1)
By State: Minnesota (5), Iowa (4), Nebraska (4), North Dakota (4), Wisconsin (4), Kansas (3), Illinois (1), South Carolina (1), South Dakota (1), Virginia (1)
By Position: OL (8), DB (6), DL (4), LB (2), QB (2), TE (2), WR (2), K (1), RB (1)
Players from North Dakota
WR Deng Deng of Four Winds-Minnewaukan
TE Tray Kuntz of Grand Forks Central
OL Lawson Lotysz of Grand Forks Red River
DL Erick Paye of Grand Forks Central
WR Deng Deng of Four Winds-Minnewaukan
TE Tray Kuntz of Grand Forks Central
OL Lawson Lotysz of Grand Forks Red River
DL Erick Paye of Grand Forks Central
—————————————————-
WOLVES-76ERS
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid scored a season-high 51 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, and the Philadelphia 76ers used a big fourth quarter to close out the Minnesota Timberwolves for a 127-113 win on Wednesday night. Tyrese Maxey scored 35 points as Philadelphia (19-8) won for the seventh time in eight games, bouncing back nicely after a 108-104 loss to Chicago on Monday night. Minnesota (20-6) got 27 points from Anthony Edwards, 23 points from Karl-Anthony Towns and 21 from Jaden McDaniels. The Timberwolves entered Wednesday night as winners of nine of its last 10 games and possessors of the league’s best record. Embiid recorded his 12th straight game with 30 or more points and 10-plus rebounds. It is the NBA’s longest such streak since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did it in 16 straight games for the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1971-72 season.